Weeks before Opening Day this season, Major League Baseball sent a memo to all 30 clubs highlighting an increase in catcher interference. Instances of catchers being hit by opposing hitters' bats were increasing rapidly. Catcher interference was called 94 times in 2023, almost 20 times more than in 2022.
What was causing the dramatic rebound? The catchers continued to approach the plate. In the era of pitch framing, teams deduced that the closer a catcher is to receiving a pitch, the more likely he is to “steal” a strike.
It worked well enough to keep catchers coming to the batter's box. This spring's memo essentially warned teams to stop doing it and move catchers further behind the plate to minimize the risk.
But anyone who watched St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras suffer a broken left arm Tuesday night knows the risk is still ever-present.
Receiver interference calls continue to skyrocket at a historic rate. The average receiver's total interference from 2010 to 2018 was 31. This year, he's been called 33 times, in less than two months.
MLB's concerns were already growing. There are more than double the number of interferences in 2024 compared to the 2022 season at the same point (15). The league is on pace for a record 148 receiver interference calls this season. The pressure to frame the understrike has inadvertently jeopardized the safety of catchers.
“The risk is high,” Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said earlier in the week. “We just experienced it.”
Contreras was hit by the swing of New York Mets designated hitter JD Martínez. The receiver underwent surgery Wednesday and will miss a minimum of six to eight weeks. Contreras was one of the worst point guards in baseball last year at borderline pitches below the zone. The Cardinals, a defensive-oriented club, worked extensively with Contreras to improve in that regard.
During his first year in St. Louis, the Cardinals revised Contreras' approach, including his setup behind the plate (Contreras abandoned the traditional crouch behind the plate in favor of the one-knee-down method). In fact, they also brought Contreras closer to the plate.
The Cardinals aren't the only team in baseball to implement this method, but they were the first to pay the price for it this season.
“The more you evaluate catchers in the frame, the closer they get to the batter to get that low pitch,” Marmol said. “You're seeing more receivers doing that based on their ability to throw low, but you're also seeing more interference from receivers and backswings from players based on them being closer. “Sometimes the catcher could unknowingly get closer and closer from one batter to another without realizing it.”
That appears to have been the case for Contreras, who was caught by the swing of Martinez, who has a naturally deep swing and positions himself as close to the back of the batter's box as possible. Replays showed the head of Martínez's bat hitting Contreras' left arm. It also showed how far Contreras had gone in his attempt to frame the field.
Willson Contreras will leave this game after receiving a swing from JD Martínez on his left arm. pic.twitter.com/mJfiqOBf4t
– Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 8, 2024
“There's always a risk being a catcher,” Contreras said after the injury. “It could have been something different. It could have been my knee, it could have been a concussion. That risk will always be there. “I don’t blame any part of my game because this happened tonight.”
Maybe that's the problem. No position player in baseball takes a more constant beating than the catcher. And while teams across the board cover the low-strike call, catchers bear the brunt of the consequences.
“We always used to talk about catcher interference being long threads on your glove or ticking on your glove,” said Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch, who caught for seven seasons in the major leagues. “Then he became the glove entirely. (Contreras) is one of the first I have seen in danger.”
““That's risky,” Hinch added. “The closer we get to the plate, the more hits we can grab on the bottom rail. The receivers are being evaluated. They get paid for how well they can control the bottom lane. That has led to more and more receiver interference throughout the game. … We want our guys to be close enough to make an impact with the low blow but without putting themselves in danger. “It’s a difficult balance when the incentive to do it is real and the risk is extreme.”
Some teams emphasize the low blow more than others. Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson was a catcher in the Tigers organization for four seasons. He was taught that when the bat goes through the zone, the glove must follow.
“ANDYou’re going to get more dirty advice,” Thomson said. “You're closer to the plate, you're closer to the strike zone. “It’s a better presentation for the referee.”
Still, Thomson prefers his catchers to stay some distance from the plate.
'”We watch for guys who do that and remind the receiver, 'You've got to back off a little bit,'” he said.
The middle ground for some teams seems to be self-control. The Minnesota Twins, for example, monitor their catcher on every pitch. It's one of first base and catching coach Hank Conger's main in-game responsibilities.
“Generally speaking, a good, tight setup is better than worse, whichever you prefer. But obviously it's to avoid not only catcher interference, but also injuries,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I think there are some reasons why (being closer) is helpful, but there are other times where we yell at them to back off so they're helpful too, you know?”
The Atlanta Braves have two coaches assigned to receiving duties. Sal Fasano is the receivers coach. He is assisted by Eddie Perez, who spent nine of his 11 major league seasons as a catcher for the Braves. Pérez certainly understands the strategy behind being close to the plate, but believes the responsibility of informing the catcher that he is too close falls to those watching the game from the dugout.
““It’s always a good idea to be closer to the hitter,” Perez said. “It's believed that if you're closer to the batter, you'll get more calls.”
“Sal always reminds them to come back, they don't want to get hurt,” Pérez added. “From (the bench) it looks better. When you're catching you don't know how far you are from the hitter, and every hitter has a different setup, so you have to adapt. … As a catcher, they have to tell you from the sideline how close you are to the batter.”
But accidental hits behind the plate can sometimes be a two-way street. Catchers are frequently affected by hitters' swings, regardless of where they are positioned. With the average bat speed clocking in at approximately 75 mph, some argue that the onus falls on the hitter to ensure that not only his physical body remains within the parameters of the batter's box, but also his swing.
“What I don't necessarily agree with is that it may also be the way people swing,” Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It could be the way the receivers are preparing, yes. But it may also be the way some people swing. And it's dangerous”.
With the league alert and MLB clearly aware of the risks, what can be done to reduce catcher interference and the inherent risk of injury? Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas suggested a physical line behind the plate that catchers can't cross, a box of their own in a way. Could the automated ball-striking system (which theoretically eliminates framing value) be the answer? Possibly, but it's an imperfect system in the minor leagues and far from a product of the big leagues.
“I don't know what they could do other than reward the batter with more bases and put him on second base,” Hinch said. “There are things you could probably do to make this have a big impact on the game, but I don't know if anything can be more impactful than losing one of your best players for six to eight weeks, 10 weeks, whatever. “
The Cardinals now know how severe that impact can be. The biggest question arises: baseball?
— The AthleticMatt Gelb, Cody Stavenhagen, Aaron Gleeman, Patrick Mooney, David O'Brien and Eno Sarris contributed to this story.
(Photo of Contreras being helped off the field: Jeff Roberson/Associated Press)
