Catching Instructor-U.S.F Bull Alumni, Drafted 1996-97 California Angels-Proud Dad to Ricky and Easton-Seeker of truth not tradition-Top Tier Roos American 2026
⚾️BLOCKING IS A MINDSET⚾️
CATCHERS-
-Blocking is a total and 100% commitment to making sure that when the ball hits the dirt/turf that you do everything in your power to keep it within the inside lines of each batters box💪
@baseballifer11
@nextlevelbb
@KerriganDan
CATCHERS-
PB/WP Recovery-
- Max effort sprint to ball
- Get to R side of baseball
- L shin hits ground first allowing you
to glide to ball
- Pick up ball bare handed
- R ft will get planted in the ground
- Usually 3/4 or side arm toss back to P
👊
CATCHERS-
-If you are “too good” to catch bullpens when your pitchers need to throw them how do you expect them to trust you when the lights come on?
Bullpen sessions are the closet thing to game action-
*WE ARE NEVER TOO GOOD TO BE A BULLPEN CATCHER👍
PLAYERS/STUDENT ATHLETES….
-Please
-Thank you
-Yes Ma’am
-No Ma’am
-Yes Sir
-No sir
-What can I do to help?
…are just a few simple words that can get you a leg up on being the selfless player that Coaches and players want to be around👍
CATCHERS-
When we talk about creating good angles back to the plate we are doing a few things-
1. Working back against the shape of the pitch
2. Opening the line of sight(Runway) for the umpire to get the best view of the pitch.
-UNC vs FSU today here one of the best examples-
CATCHERS OF ALL AGES-
As your spring season begins…strive to have a “CATCHERS PERFECT GAME” each game.
-No Drops
-No Passed balls
-No errant throws
-No missed blocks
-You may not be PERFECT after each game but will give you a goal to strive for each game(and practice) 👊
CATCHERS-
-Being a catcher has so many more life benefits than just what you do in game. It teaches you-
-LEADERSHIP
-PUBLIC SPEAKING
-MENTAL TOUGHNESS
Among many other things. Next time you are behind the dish remember all the life lessons being a catcher brings👊
For those that “frown” upon JUCO baseball go out out and watch the level of competition amongst these teams. If your son/player has the opportunity to play for a JUCO squad know that he most likely will see the best competition until pro ball.
@baseballifer11
@butchbaccala
⚾️RAINBOW DRILL⚾️
-Designed to help instill trust and confidence in our catchers by forcing them to wait as long as they can below the baseball before making a positive mitt movement back towards the K zone.
@baseballifer11
@nextlevelbb
@KerriganDan
@jace49932769
CATCHERS-
What staying connected looks like when working receiving progressions-
-Oates Connection ball between forearm and chest- Ball does not come out until after ball is pocketed-if ball comes out before instant feedback that we can wait longer below the baseball👊
CATCHERS-
3 CATCHER TRANSFER PROG
-Catchers start on knees slight offset
towards 2b
- Ball impacts mitt
- Mitt turns toward throwing hand
- R elbow pulls ball out of mitt into
throw position
- R ft immediately in ground under
center
- L elbow points to target
PARENTS- This is personal however I thought I would share some diologue between my 14 year old son and I today. Always make sure that that you relate to your kids/students and let them know how proud you are of them🙏
@butchbaccala
@baseballifer11
@nextlevelbb
@CoachYourKids
CATCHERS-
-AROUND THE WORLD ROLL BLOCKS
-Catcher leads mitt to desired block location
-Flat of shins hit ground first-NOT KNEES (correct balance/stability)
-Catcher deflates abdomen prior to ball impact-Be a pillow not a wall
-MITT-SHINS-DEFLATE👊
CATCHERS-
“Short hop timing drill”
-Hack Attack 15 Ft away from catcher
-Catches loads mitt and chest to
ground as I load ball in machine
-Mitt moving back to K Zone on ball/
ground impact.
-Emergency brake(mitt stops)put on
after vertical mitt move
👊
CATCHERS-
CHEST/HIP PRESS-
-R & L knee modified kickstand
-L or R heel in ground to push laterally
-Opposite toe in ground (Dorsi flexion)
-Target presented
-Chest loads to the ground as mitt loads
-L elbow leads movement back to
K zone in impact for leverage
PLAYERS-
If you have interest in playing in college or professionally please give serious consideration to the5 A’s”-
-APPEARANCE(Yes it matters)
-ACADEMICS(Yes they matter)
-ATTITUDE(Yes it matters)
-APTITUDE (Yes it matters)
-ATHLETICISM-(5/5 on importance)
-RECEIVING TAP BACKS-
-Getting our catchers to stay underneath the baseball as long as they can while working through the catch.
-Target
-Mitt load on my arm load
-Mitt stays on runway (area
Underneath) as long as possible
-Mitt moves through the catch up to
K-Zone
-CATCHERS-
“5-4-3 DP Turns”
-One of my favorite pre throwing to the bags throw progressions working on getting R Ft in the ground ASAP and different transfer locations.
-Standing secondary on the bag
-Catch
-R ft then L ft into ground
-Get the ball in the air💪
PITCHERS-
-If your time to the dish from the stretch is 1.7 because you are chasing a specific number on the gun, you are putting yourself before your team and not giving your catchers any shot to throw any runners out👊
#teamfirstmelast
PLAYERS-
A huge part of the recruiting process is not just accepting an offer from said school, but letting those other schools know that we’re recruiting you(by phone) how much you appreciate the time and effort they spent coming to see you play. 👊
PLAYERS-
Want to play Baseball in college?
*APPEARANCE
-What you look like matters
*ACADEMICS
-How you do in the classroom matters
*ATTITUDE
-What kind of teammate you are and how you treat everyone matters
*ABILITY
-Doesn’t matter if you don’t have the first 3
CATCHERS-
There is always another play. After securing the lead out at the plate make sure that you turn glove side to nab that trail runner trying to catch you napping. Our guys doing a great job of that here👊
@baseballifer11
@CatchingAcademy
@Whartonbaseball
The quickest way for baseball and softball players just entering high school to take the enjoyment out of their 4 years is to worry about why some players around them are already committed to a college. Comparison is the thief of all joy-Work and enjoy your own process👍
Catchers when pitchers say they need to throw bullpens be the first one to step up and say “I got you!” All of your training that you put in outside of the game when it comes to Recieving, blocking and throwing can be applied in a single pen👊.
#outworkeveryone
PSA COACHES/PLAYERS-45 FT LINE
-Remember that once we get to the 45 Ft line that our L ft cannot crossover into fair territory or we are out and the play is dead. This play cost Alabama a shot at the lead late. Catchers and first baseman go to school on this play👊
-CATCHERS-
“THROWING DOWN THE HALLWAY”
-2 point stance and sprinters stance
-L screens 4 ft apart
-Focus on proper ball flight and
Direction
-Working at 90% of max effort which
Keeps movements under control and
promotes better accuracy
FOR THE RECORD-
-Hitters recognizing that a pitcher may be tipping pitches and relaying to their teammates and or runners picking up signs on the base paths and relaying to their hitter is not cheating….that’s called baseball IQ and being a student of the game👊
⚾️TRAVEL BASEBALL COACHES⚾️-
3rd time I’ve talked w a college coach who was in Jupiter at the WWBA that went and asked the Head Coach for a roster that could not produce one. Remember who you are there for…not you…for the kids👍
PROPER THROWING MECHANICS-
-Lets ball travel(does not reach)
-Mitt turns toward throwing hand
-Exchange made Mid Chest
-R ft gets down directly underneath
-R arm gets gets up and inside 90 deg.
-Front elbow pointing toward target
-L leg lands at flex
-R toe/knee turn 2 target
CATCHERS-
We work so hard on our defensive tools these days however the
#1
recruiting tool looked at for you will be your bat first, then the arm second. Make sure the stick doesn’t get neglected and split your training time to make sure the hit took is there.👊
CATCHERS- 2 things that you MUST have to be the right man for the job behind the dish and they aren’t pop times and arm velo-LEADERSHIP AND CONFIDENCE are must haves to lead your squad to where they need to go👊
@butchbaccala
@baseballifer11
@KerriganDan
@colter_bostick
CATCHING COACHES-do you work on DP turns w your catchers? If not great drill for you to mix in-R ft starts middle of bag in standing secondary and forces our Cs to get that R ft to center quickly instead of replacing feet-we want that R ft to work tight around the bag👊
PARENTS-
If you are giving your 8-14 year old athlete energy drinks to maintain a high level of performance for a 2 hour game, we may need to go back and revisit their overall sleep regimen and nutritional status👍
@BaseballMentors
@nextlevelbb
@KerriganDan
@EricCressey
PLAYERS-
STOP Putting “UNCOMMITTED” in your Twitter profile if you are yet to play a High School baseball game. Enjoy these next few years and IF and when the time comes that you are fortunate to receive college offers then that was your time-👊
CATCHERS- Great drill for our guys and gals to get them used to the sequencing of the block. “MITT-KNEES-EXHALE”. In that order will make sure that we get into proper positioning and breathe over the baseball/softball.
@baseballifer11
@colter_bostick
@butchbaccala
@nextlevelbb
CATCHERS-
Very similar to hitting the most important 2 things that you do when receiving pitches are-
1. Being on time
2. Matching the plane of the ball
-You do those 2 things well and you will have many pitchers wanting to throw to you👊
Sophmore Osceola High School backstop
@nolanrfitz
working here on some directional throwing. Turned 180 degrees from his target he still gets his R ft to center and L to target. Great drill for getting the body to organize
@catchblockthrow
@xanbarksdale
@CoachCasto
Big shout out to all the catchers out there…Today is your day! Big thanks to
@xanbarksdale
for putting us all on the map and getting February 2nd officially declared as National Catchers Day! Keep leading and dominating!
@
@KerriganDan
@redscatching
@CatchingAcademy
TO ALL BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL COACHES OF KIDS 8-12
If you are bringing in guest players to fill roster spots then those guest players should be hitting at the bottom of your lineup and not hitting ahead of the players that are paying dues and at each practice.👊
I believe that SIZE is the most important thing in all of life/sports-
-SIZE of your faith
-SIZE of your desire to better
-SIZE of your ability to be a great leader
-SIZE wanting the best for yourself
-Today when it comes to SIZE….be bigger then everyone else👊
Great work w my HS group tonight. Started their receiving progressions w some connection ball rolls which incorporates our mitt load and catching through the baseball. Idea is for them to think of their thumb as a shovel and stay under the baseball as they work up through it👍
CATCHERS LISTEN UP-
Apparently there is a new trend of catchers not wearing cups during games, bullpens etc. I was just informed of yet another collegiate catcher with a testicular impact injury from not wearing a cup in a game. A cup is mandatory…NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Throwing breakdown of
@OsceolaBaseball
2026 backstop
@EthanFutch2
.
1- Lets ball get deep and makes a clean midline transfer
2- L knee leads the momentum movement into the throw.
3-R ft gets into the ground quickly
4-L leg strikes and straightens acting as catapult into throw
PLAYERS/PARENTS-
-You want us as coaches to help your child move on to the next level of baseball however…if your kid is not coachable or sulks when they are not in the lineup please do not expect us to “go to bat” for your child. We lose credibility as coaches when we do that
CATCHERS-
SAFETY TIP
-When you are doing any kind of receiving work off of a pitching machine….PUT A MASK ON! Machines can accelerate and decelerate without notice-Don’t be the guy/gal that gets hurt/killed when it could have been prevented.👍
@nextlevelbb
@baseballifer11
PLAYERS-
-I wanted to reiterate a tweet that I posted a year ago.
If you are fortunate enough to play baseball/softball after high school at ANY level of college…YOU ARE A DUDE! Each of you has a different path so be proud of getting that opportunity you worked so hard for👊
Calvary Christian Junior catcher
@kapkowski
showing off his superior catch and throw skills. Here as you hear it a .58 release time w a 1.87 finished product pop time. Eli is going to be a great addition to whichever college is lucky enough to land him💪
@Calvary_BB
Check out Berkeley Prep backstop and Florida State Committ
@CarlsonGunnett
doin his thing! This kid just keeps getting better and better! Atta boy G!
@Mmetcalf32
CATCHERS-
If your P is consistently up in the zone instead of repeatedly calling for a FB and expecting a different result have your P throw a BB to force them to get on top or the top 3/4 of the baseball. You will be surprised the adjustment your pitcher makes w this change👊
COACHES-PLAYERS-PARENTS
Is your baseball/softball player getting their arm care in? Some feel that it is too tedious, time consuming and just a hassle however it’s a small price to pay to stay on the field. Check out
@TeamMSTRD
and
@jaegersports
for your arm care needs👊
⚾️CATCHER SHORT HOPS(Receiving)
- BASIC YET EFFECTIVE DRILL FOR RYTHM AND TIMING
-I load my hand to underhand it to them
- They load their mitt(Negative move) slow and controlled to the ground as I load
-Mitt making positive move back to K Zone before ball impacts pocket.
2022 Berkeley Prep catcher and Florida State Committ
@CarlsonGunnett
continuing his onslaught of opposing runners as he shows here his quick footwork and arm strength to put the fire out early vs. Lakeland Christian.
@Mmetcalf32
@PBRFlorida
@PGAllAmerican
Wanted to throw out a Huge Merry Christmas to my friends and colleagues in our growing catching community. I’m glad to have the opportunity to help you grow your brand and I am thankful for you all helping me strengthen my brand as well. Merry Christmas gang🙏👊
PARENTS OF ATHLETES-
I can assure you that ALL of your kids/athletes will be going professional…… ……..IN SOMETHING OTHER THAN ATHLETICS FOR MOST. Make sure your athletes have an identity as much off the field as much as they do on it.👍
@baseballifer11
@DrBhrettMcCabe
FORCE PICK PLAYS AT THE PLATE W RE-DIRECT TO 3rd.
-Catcher sets up w R ball of foot on
Middle of plate
-Infielder first mentality he is low w feet
moving
-Steps toward towards pick and clears
both lines
-Full arm fake to 1st-”1001” count then
throw to 3rd👍
CATCHERS-
SOCIAL FACILITATION-when you compete against someone at or during an activity it will always bring out more than you knew you had in the tank 👊
-Here my high school catchers working a long distance block and recover drill wrapping up a workout.
@BaseballMentors
OFFSET RECEIVING-
Helps us to match pitch shape and get our mitt/pocket to the outside of the baseball.
-Pre pitch stance ▶️LKD
-Mitt load and chest press together
-Mitt loads towards R ankle
-Mitt moving back to K zone on impact
-Good angles back to KZone created
Berkeley Prep Junior
@CarlsonGunnett
Working on proper connection w the glove and left knee turns here on his snap throws to 1st. Gunnett is a player that doesn’t settle for just being great-he’s got higher aspirations💪
@Mmetcalf32
@BPBucBaseball
TO ALL FUTURE AND POTENTIAL COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYERS-
-There is a time and place for everyone when it comes to committing to their school of choice. Continue to work YOUR PROCESS and when the time is right it will happen!
@KerriganDan
@baseballifer11
@nextlevelbb
@butchbaccala
Catchers Pre-Game progression-should take no more than 5 minutes BEFORE pitcher warms up in pen-REMEMBER- the first time you do one of these progressions on game day shoukd not be in the game-GET YOUR PRE GAME IN👊