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I'm 14 years old. I would like to know what the average pop time for a catcher my age would be. I know your supposed to be right around 2.00 for a high school player but my guess is theres not too many 14 yearolds throwing 2.00 down to second. I just want to see where I am in the mix. Thanks
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Game POP times
As a 14 year old my son was 2.15.
As a 15 year old freshman he was 2.1 to 2.05
As a 16 year old Soph he was 2.00 to 2.05
As a 17 year old Jr he was 1.95 to 2.0
As a 18 year old Sr he was 1.91 to 1.95

He can throw in the 1.85 1.88 range in practice and between innings. But his game pops are in the 1.95 to 1.98 range.

His pop at a PG event after his freshman year in HS was 2.06 and 76 mph.
His pop at the PG national before his Jr year in HS was 1.91 and 80 mph.

I throw out these numbers just to give you an idea of how you can improve over a period of time. My sons gains in arm strength really helped him. And his quickness behind the plate really improved over the years due to alot of hard work. Good Luck
Results at a recent U13 tryout.

Best Pop time 2.44 at 64 mph.(13 years old, 8th grader) 160 lbs. 5'7" tall

Second best 2.53 at 58 mph (12 years old, 7th grader)
94 lbs. 5' tall

One was pretty accurate and one was not as on target.

We watched the U16 tryouts and best times were all well below 2.3. Best was right around 2.00 and accurate.
POP time is certainly important, but the accuracy of the throw is WAAAYYYYYY more important than how quick it gets there.
A 1.80 6 ft high or to either side of the bag is worse than a 2.25 on the bag...

Remember, getting the runner out is the purpose- how quickly you get the ball to 2B is only part of the equation...
Ok thanks I run about anywhere from a 2.51 on stuff in the dirt to a 2.34 on a good pitch, mostly hiting low 2.4ish accuratly. So I guess it looks like I'm a little bit high. I have a friend that I play long toss with after school and I try to do Throwers 10 every other day. Hopefully by the end of Freshman year I can hit 2.1 Thats my goal.
Well get your self a stop watch and if you have a recordable dvr on your tv, time the pro's when they steal.

Best time was 1.9 - 2.0 secs that I timed which surprized me (i thought it would be faster) but what interested me was a segment about pitchers and there times should be about 1.2-1.5 during there pitching release. Add that up and figure how fast it takes a base runner to run to second or third and you will see it takes more than pop time to get a runner out.


drill
quote:
Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
If you have a dvr you don't need a stop watch. Just play it back in frame by frame and count the frames. If it is digital, 60 frames per second. If not, then 30.

I've done this for countless MLB throw downs, and they are all right around 2.0.


happy to know that I can count frames on the dvr, now i will really drive my wife crazy.


drill
catchaprospect, you're right, many guys 2.0 or higher do make it to the show, however, those guys aren't there for their catch and throw abilities. Mike Piazza was awful throwing the ball and must have been around a 2.2 on a good day and we all know he'll be a first ballot HOF inductee.
As amateur level catchers, we should focus first on our receiving and handling pitchers along with our defense (blocking, etc) and throwing.
Most of those guys you mention that made it to the show and don't throw particularly well- WEREN'T AMATEUR CATCHERS- they were converted shortstops or 3B etc.
bassboy1,
Welcome to the HSBBW. Sounds as if your son has a very strong arm. My son was much the same as your son at that age. With the arm strength he has I'm surprised he isn't pitching. He velocity should be in the upper 80's with a 2.1 pop time. Have you had his velocity checked. I might caution you ahead of time that if he is a catcher with exceptional velocity he will be asked to pitch at some point and over uses will become an issue. Again welcome to the High School Baseball web. Ignore the initial criticism from those of us that know all the bells and whistles of how to make posts and what buttons to push --- and when to push them. Hang in there it gets better.
Fungo
quote:
He velocity should be in the upper 80's with a 2.1 pop time.

Fungo - do you mean upper 70's? I'm not sure I have ever seen or heard of a catcher with an upper 80's velocity.

hsplayer: the average varsity HS catcher pop time is probably around 2.25. But who wants to be average? Try to get your release time to .7 and your velocity to 75, and that translates into a 2.0 pop time.
Agree.

... and I would add, work as often as possible on your footwork (jumping rope is a great exercise for catchers too). Those are things you can do at home, or really just about anywhere. (Unless you are Pudge Rodriguez), you can never get to the proper throwing position quick enough. Also, delivering the ball off balance means MUCH less velocity and more chance that things can go wrong.
Excellence in the capability to C&T will get you
looked at by many colleges. Without great grades, eliminate any consideration for Ivy Conference.
If average grades, can't anybody get into Florida State? Smile

And if able to hit, C&T with excellence, look
to get drafted (and then seek a clause in the pro contract to pay for education!)
TR and Eneagles,
Your both right on about being accurate. I've seen a lot kids with great "pop times" that the throw was way off base or over the head of 2b or ss.
A drill we used with my son and others was to take a ball bucket and lay it on the 1st base side of 2b and had the catchers throw it in the bucket with out hitting the dirt. The pop times were a slight bit longer but they got more accurate the more they did the drill. Now my son can put it in the bucket 7 of 10 times with a low 2 pop time.
My son pop's at around 2.3-2.4 14 years old. He is accurate, all he has to do is get stronger and eat right now. But if the pitcher isn't around 1.5 it doesn't make any difference. Pop time is a good gauge that everyone uses but some know how to figure the variables in better than others.

IMHO,

drill

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