Catchers are the multi-taskers of the baseball world. They have to work together with the pitcher to strike out opposing players, run for pop-ups, bunts, and foul balls, and protect home plate from incoming runners. They are involved in nearly every play their team makes. Performing all of these tasks effectively requires catchers to master a number of techniques and stances. Framing and blocking are two important techniques catchers must use in every game to be successful.

Catchers use framing in order to influence the calls umpires make on pitches. If a pitch is on the borderline, or just outside the strike zone, framing the ball gives the impression of the ball actually being inside the zone, making it more likely the umpire will call the pitch a strike rather than a ball. To frame a pitch, the catcher should simply move the glove to the center of the body right after the catch is made. The movement should be fluid and fast; it should appear as a natural follow through to the catch and not a second thought or calculated move.

The framing technique should be used sparingly by catchers and only in circumstance where the pitch truly is a borderline one. If a catcher uses framing too often, the umpire is likely to catch on to what is happening, and may even slant his calls in favor of the opposing team.

Blocking is a technique that is used more often than framing. Blocking pitches is a way for catchers to keep the ball in front of them; failure to do so can mean opposing players stealing bases or scoring. There are two styles of blocking. The style a catcher uses depends on the kind of pitch that is coming in. The first technique should be used for pitches coming in straight in front of the catcher; these kinds of pitches are usually fastballs. For this kind of blocking, the catcher should first get on their knees and put their glove on the ground, with the fingers down. Their throwing hand should be placed behind the glove. The catcher should hunch their shoulders forward, over the ball, and use their glove to direct the ball towards home plate. After the ball is directed towards the plate, the catcher can then jump up and make any play that needs to be made. The catcher should keep their chin tucked into the chest throughout the entire block to protect their neck, in case the ball bounces up.

The second kind of blocking should be used when the ball is coming in at an angle or on the ground inside or outside the catcher’s zone. These kinds of pitches are usually curve balls or change-ups. The first move in this second blocking technique is for the catcher to take a quick, short step in the direction of the incoming ball, with the foot closest to the ball. Next, the catcher should propel themselves towards the ball, pushing off their opposite leg, so they can get on top of the ball. Once they are over the ball, they should use their glove to push the ball towards home plate. Throughout this whole movement, the catcher should stay as low to the ground as possible.  Once again, after the catcher deflects the ball towards home plate, they can them jump up and complete the play. The catcher should keep their chin tucked in to protect the neck while using this blocking technique as well.

There are certain safety measures a catcher should observe in any circumstance, including while using framing and blocking. They should wear a protective face mask at all times. A catcher should always maintain a proper amount of distance between themselves and the hitter, so they do not get it with the bat. Learning how to strike a proper stance and perform framing and blocking techniques properly is an important way to prevent athletic injuries to the catcher. It is also of the utmost importance that catchers tuck their chins in to protect their necks at all times.

It is the catcher’s job to protect the home plate for their team, and framing and blocking are two extremely useful techniques the multi-tasking pitchers can use to get control over the ball.