Playing Time Expectation College Catcher

My son's HA D3 team had a lot of DH games so the split was like ~70/30 between primary and back up.

It depends on how good of a hitter the primary and backup catcher are.  My son had 3 different catchers over his 4 college years.  Honestly, it seemed like his coach wanted an upper classman behind the plate, and somebody that could hit in the top 6 positions.   

Catching a little more than half the games is a reasonable expectation for a #1 C on a JuCo team. Assuming that he is one of the team’s better hitters, he would DH (some to a lot) of the games he doesn’t C.

Son's #1 catcher in college typically caught 1 or 2 out of the 3 weekend games in the early season,  then all 3 once conference games started.   Backups caught the mid-week games. 

Francis; Adbono:

A successful College Coach will NOT name his catchers #1 or #2 or #3. The strengths and weakness of the opposing team will influence the decision.

One catcher may have a strong arm another catcher is good a "blocking", another catcher is strong at determining the batter's adjustments in the batters box.

The current Baltimore Orioles Manager and the Assistant Coach played at SRJC as catchers. They received equal playing time.

Bob

As pitchers mine were blessed in the C dept. Between the two of them they have played with 5 catchers who have been drafted at some point in their career. The best defensive catcher of all was not drafted. He still caught 2x/week (usually Sun/Midweek).

I would say 75% of the time behind the plate, if they hit they will most likely DH one of them unless it's a walkover game in which all the C1s sat completely.

Earlier on in the season it wasn't uncommon to see C1/C2/C3 in a 3 game series with C1 doing the midweek and C1 DHing on the weekend.

One of my son’s travel teammate was hailed as one of his coach’s (perennially ranked D1) top recruits ever. He was handed the #1 job for three years. For three years he was on the bench by the start of conference play.

You can’t expect anything. You have to earn it and hold it.

Given my son's situation, I'm wondering what is the chance he will get any playing time as a freshman 3rd string catcher behind 2 senior catchers...  I'm expecting 0 but hoping he gets to play some (he's alright burning a red shirt year as I explained in another thread).

The name of the game is “wining “, In the 7th to  9th inning, I placed my best defense catcher, SS, CF. On the field.

Bob

@atlnon posted:

Given my son's situation, I'm wondering what is the chance he will get any playing time as a freshman 3rd string catcher behind 2 senior catchers...  I'm expecting 0 but hoping he gets to play some (he's alright burning a red shirt year as I explained in another thread).

Tell him to get into the cage and practice hitting. That will get him in the game. He also needs to pay attention and ask questions of the 2 other catchers.

Also he should be practicing and know what the HC coaches expectations for him are at this point.

@atlnon posted:

Given my son's situation, I'm wondering what is the chance he will get any playing time as a freshman 3rd string catcher behind 2 senior catchers...  I'm expecting 0 but hoping he gets to play some (he's alright burning a red shirt year as I explained in another thread).

At my son's old school, they had 2 junior catchers and one freshman catcher. Just 3 catchers on the roster. The freshman got 5 at bats all year. The juniors basically split the playing time. Worse, the freshman caught so many bullpens that he tore his meniscus  and was catching bullpens sitting on a stool towards the end of the season. He hit the transfer portal after the end of the semester. It's really terrible what some programs do to these kids.

Most teams I see carry at least 3 catchers and often a few dual position players who catch/1b, etc.  and freshman often see very few games behind the plate, if any, but may see time at DH or 1b/3b if they can hit, it's just in my opinion, normal.  Playing time for a catcher is tough, there's only one spot on the team.  One thing I'd consider as a catcher is how many games the team typically plays a season, especially at the lower divisions.

Even if they don't play, the team needs them for bullpens, live at-bat sessions for pitchers, and catchers ofter are injured.  My son was a catcher for 90% of his baseball life and transitioned to pitcher his Jr year of HS.  As a pitcher, he will on occasion catch bullpens for the other pitchers on his d3 college team to help out.  But there are 4 catchers on roster, 2 play significant time at other positions, and it seems every other year there are at least 2 catchers recruited.

A kid from our area was considered #1 catcher in the state, went to Vandy, saw limited time at catcher early, but got time as a utility player/dh/1b till he was a covid senior, and even then it was 50/50 split with another catcher(s),,,was drafted his junior year (he can hit), stayed in school and then was drafted 15 rounds higher after his senior year....

Moral, if you can hit, you will play, somewhere.

@Francis7 posted:

At my son's old school, they had 2 junior catchers and one freshman catcher. Just 3 catchers on the roster. The freshman got 5 at bats all year. The juniors basically split the playing time. Worse, the freshman caught so many bullpens that he tore his meniscus  and was catching bullpens sitting on a stool towards the end of the season. He hit the transfer portal after the end of the semester. It's really terrible what some programs do to these kids.

Kid from our HS (23) committed to a local JUCO.  A lot of people were questioning it as they did not see him as a college player.  What they didn't know was that he was going as a bullpen catcher.  He had some academic $ and wanted to continue being part of a team and get some of his college pre-reqs out of the way.  He'll get to travel w/ the team, and from what others in the program say, he is basically a member of the team. 

Life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. 

Lots of D1 programs bring in one guy who just catches pens. Coach may give them some $$. They are part of the team and love what they are doing.

If you have an alfa catcher most likely will 2 out of 3 on the weekend and he will DH the game he doesn't catch. occasionally will catch all 3 if deemed needed.

if you have couple interchangeable parts it will vary greatly depending on the opponents strength, game play, speed on bases, defensive specialty etc.  You might see 3 catchers used in many games...or just 1 in most games.

@Francis7 posted:

At my son's old school, they had 2 junior catchers and one freshman catcher. Just 3 catchers on the roster. The freshman got 5 at bats all year. The juniors basically split the playing time. Worse, the freshman caught so many bullpens that he tore his meniscus  and was catching bullpens sitting on a stool towards the end of the season. He hit the transfer portal after the end of the semester. It's really terrible what some programs do to these kids.

If you are not 1 or 2 on the catching depth chart, catching pens is probably your most important role to the program and it is vital.   Your job is to embrace that role while working your a$$ off to earn your way up the chart.  (Or, in some instances, just embrace the role because that's pretty much what you are there for.)  I don't see the direct correlation between catching "so many pens" and tearing his meniscus.  Catching pens generally does not require stressful throwing.  So, I'm also not seeing your point as to what is really terrible that the program is doing to the kid.

@Francis7 posted:

At my son's old school, they had 2 junior catchers and one freshman catcher. Just 3 catchers on the roster. The freshman got 5 at bats all year. The juniors basically split the playing time. Worse, the freshman caught so many bullpens that he tore his meniscus  and was catching bullpens sitting on a stool towards the end of the season. He hit the transfer portal after the end of the semester. It's really terrible what some programs do to these kids.

I’ve never heard of a catcher tearing a meniscus (or any injury) from catching too many pens. I’d say it was more likely the catcher didn’t take his role seriously and didn’t warm up/stretch properly before the pens.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

I’ve never heard of a catcher tearing a meniscus (or any injury) from catching too many pens. I’d say it was more likely the catcher didn’t take his role seriously and didn’t warm up/stretch properly before the pens.

I haven't either. In fact, on the teams son has played with and coached with I also DO NOT ever recall ONE catcher in all of these years not being able to do their job due to injury because of catching  too many pens. Usually the catchers injury happens when they are playing.

Make sure that your catcher knows the expectations of the program before he commits.

Is the Head Coach a former catcher? A former pitcher? Watch the school's games before you commit to a College program.

Talk with the parents and Pro scouts attending the games. "Study and evaluate".

Please do not "broadcast" your intentions on social networks.

Bob

@TPM posted:

I haven't either. In fact, on the teams son has played with and coached with I also DO NOT ever recall ONE catcher in all of these years not being able to do their job due to injury because of catching  too many pens. Usually the catchers injury happens when they are playing.

Make sure that your catcher knows the expectations of the program before he commits.

My son injured his catching wrist catching January pens. Could not play thru it and missed first 4 weekends of the season. The hardest throwing guy on the team had a lot of  movement one day and he just caught one wrong. Legs were always dead but not injured.

@used2lurk posted:

My son injured his catching wrist catching January pens. Could not play thru it and missed first 4 weekends of the season. The hardest throwing guy on the team had a lot of  movement one day and he just caught one wrong. Legs were always dead but not injured.

So sorry to hear this.

But it was NOT from catching TOO many pens but rather caught a ball the wrong way. Correct?

@used2lurk posted:

My son injured his catching wrist catching January pens. Could not play thru it and missed first 4 weekends of the season. The hardest throwing guy on the team had a lot of  movement one day and he just caught one wrong. Legs were always dead but not injured.

This is a regular catching injury that could happen even if he was the starting catcher.  This injury is not unique to or attributed to catching pens, right?

Sorry for the delay on the response amigos. Sure, this injury could happen whether you are the starting catcher or the bullpen catcher (which they basically had at his D1). The original comment about the kid tearing his miniscus "could" have happened in a game or catching bullpens too.

The point is this. In many situations any catcher definitely has to understand that he might have to catch A LOT of bullpens unless the school has bullpen catchers or there are kids down the depth chart from your kid. My son is relieved to be an OF who can catch in emergency situations now...his legs feel better when he hits/runs and in general. He does not miss time in the cage like he did when he was #2/3 in the depth chart.

Catching in college can be a grind unless your kid LOVES catching more than he likes the other parts of the game. You can count on the #1/2 catchers not catching as many pens pre or in season. Be ready to work your butt off.  

We just rolled out 3 different catchers in 3 games this weekend.....No injuries.

Had a fun opening weekend.  Son didn't play at all but enjoyed the weekend as we got to spend time with him during breakfast in the hotel and dinner.  He got a lot of work in the bullpen.  The coach played 1 catcher all 4 games except for 1 defensive inning.  The backup catcher didn't even get an at bat himself.  I think the coach aims to play the starting catcher all 50 games as much as he can.  My son said the starting catcher is really good and is being scouted by MLB teams.  My son seems to be content with his role in the team for this year.  He is looking forward to home games so that the 4th string catcher can help in the bullpen (they are only bringing 3 catchers during away games).  Looking forward to the warm weathers of FL this coming weekend!