How to Catch a Baserunner Stealing

What makes some catchers in baseball great at throwing out base runners? Having played the position for many years, I know a thing or two about the subject. Here is how you become great at the art of throwing out runners in baseball.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Before You Step on the Field

1. Learn the other team. On a given team, there generally are only a handful of players that are likely to try to steal. Learn who they are, and when they try to steal. Who is lightening quick? Who gets the biggest leads? Who is the best base stealer on the team? All of these questions help inform you of when to be on your guard as a catcher.
2. Be sure your pitchers know their roles. If a pitcher does not hold runners close, then you can have a cannon for an arm and it would do no good. You simply must train them to toss over to first base now and then to hold the runner. Practice with your pitching staff, and have a signal worked out that will tell them to throw over. This is very important in the game of base stealing. Make sure your pitcher is on board.
3. Train your body. You must have a strong, accurate arm to gun down the dreaded base stealer. Throwing down to second and third base is a game of inches. If you can not throw to the right spots accurately, then your chances of throwing out a base runner diminishes. Practice your throws every day, and work on your accuracy. You will eventually get to where you can throw the ball anywhere you wish with good speed. A weak accurate throw is much better than a hard inaccurate one any day.

On the Field

4. Prepare to catch him. The best base stealer in the game is on first base and looking to run on you. Try a pitch out on the first pitch. A base stealer supreme statistically goes on the first pitch, and you may just catch him unaware.
5. Watch his hands when he takes his lead off of first. If he is dead still, then beware. Great base stealers will spring out of the box like a deer at top speed. They generally will be very still just before.
6. Note how large of a lead they are taking off their base. Again, if he is inching more and more each pitch, then he is likely to take off. Keep your eyes on him out of the corner of your eyes. Do not forget to work the count with the current batter, however. As the pitcher delivers the pitch, you see the base runner spring into action.
7. Receive the ball. This step is missed a lot in the lower leagues of baseball. The catcher is often so excited to throw out the runner that he forgets to catch the ball.
8. Uncoil from your catcher position and deliver a strong throw from behind the ear to the right side of the bag. You want to try to put it right on the tag so the shortstop can make a quick one. Do not throw high or you lower your chances. A short hopper will still give you a chance to get them with a good fielding shortstop.