Description There's no doubt the best pitch in baseball is strike one. Getting ahead in the count is vital for any pitcher who wants to be successful at any level. A pitcher's best friend is the low strike - it is tougher to hit, harder for the hitter to see, and even when contact is made, it often results in a groundball.
But a pitcher can't establish the low strike if his catcher isn't using the proper fundamentals to catch the pitch as it comes in. A good catcher can snag almost any low pitch without turning his glove over - only doing so on balls in the dirt that need to be blocked.
Age Appropriate Any
Problem Your pitcher is throwing his fastball right at the knees of every hitter and starting to expand the strike zone, but now the guy in blue isn't giving him any calls. On every borderline pitch, you notice your catcher is turning his glove over to catch the ball with his palm facing up, making it appear to the umpire that the pitchers are way out of the zone.
Drill Objective By working with your catchers on catching the low-strike properly, you'll not only improve their game but you'll be helping your pitchers have better games each time they take the mound.
Set-up Catchers should always be cognizant of using proper form when catching for their pitchers during practices and bullpen sessions.
When working with catchers directly, have your catchers work in teams - one throwing while the other remains in their crouched receiving position.
Executing the Drill Have the catcher crouch in their receiving position. With a bucket of baseballs, stand at about half the distance to the mound. Continually throw baseballs to your catcher, beginning in the middle of the zone and slowly working your way down until you're nearly throwing every pitch in the dirt.
Watch for the point at which your catcher begins to turn over his wrist, then work on throwing to that point while encouraging your catcher to pick the ball with the gloved thumb still pointing down.
This is a great way to drill into your catchers the proper form of catching the low-strike, and this drill can also be blended with the blocking drill.
