The relationship between a pitcher and a catcher is utterly important at the MLB level.
Good communication between them will make things smoother and easier in games.
A good catcher should know the things that make a pitcher more comfortable, and the way he likes to work hitters.
There is a new catcher on the block for the New York Mets in Omar Narvaez.
They signed him to a one-year, $8 million contract with a club option for 2024.
Narvaez has had really good offensive seasons in the past, but struggled in 2022 to the tune of a .206/.292/.305 line.
Still, he isn’t on the team because of his offensive prowess: he got that contract because of what he can do behind the plate.
From 2020 to 2022, he was with the Milwaukee Brewers and helped some of their young pitchers blossom into legitimate stars.
He was there for Corbin Burnes‘ breakout season in 2020, and also caught Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Eric Lauer, Josh Hader, and several others.
He is a very good framer and is a master of guiding a pitching staff.
He said in a recent interview that he is eager to work with two future Hall of Famers in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
“‘I try to be the best friend I can for them.’ Omar Narváez on how he plans to work with the Mets’ pitching staff and on catching Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander,” SNY Mets tweeted with a video of the short interview.
"I try to be the best friend I can for them"
Omar Narváez on how he plans to work with the Mets' pitching staff and on catching Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander: pic.twitter.com/03dazVaXE1
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 7, 2023
Narvaez’s strategy is becoming close to his pitchers because he knows good communication with them will make their jobs easier.
He also hilariously said he is looking forward to not facing them on the mound.
Even if he doesn’t quite return to his best days offensively, Narvaez is a sneaky good acquisition by the Mets.
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In Mets history, very few catchers that I can recall that could hit some. Piazza, Stearns, Grote, LoDuca, anyone else ? Most defense only types. If Narvaez can hit a little and be outstanding defensively it would help tons. last year Met catchers were automatic outs, even though Nido was at times decent and was second gold glove voting. McCann was brutal.