High school
Catching
All positions
Beginner
Major League Low-Ball Receiving Drill (Realmuto Style)
Antonelli Baseball drill that starts the glove on the ground so catchers learn to work under low pitches and receive the bottom of the ball without pushing it out of the zone.
- Equipment:
- Glove
- Duration:
- About 8 min
- Setting:
- Indoor or outdoor
- Players:
- Partner
Coaching notes
Catchers begin with the glove skimming the dirt in front of the plate. As the pitch arrives they track upward, catch the bottom of the ball, and flex the arm rather than extending, exaggerating the upward move in practice so the same soft under-to-up action becomes automatic in games.
Objectives
Turn borderline low pitches into called strikes, eliminate the common “push-out” receiving error, and build confidence handling high-velocity sinkers.
Coaching cues
Start the glove below the ball; beat the ball to the spot; catch the bottom of the ball; flex the elbow instead of pushing/extending; give a low target and work up.
Common errors
Starting the glove above the ball and dipping late; pushing or extending through the catch; stabbing at the ball instead of a fluid under-to-up path.
Steps
- 1. Place glove on the ground near the front of the plate
- 2. Skim the ground and stay under the incoming pitch
- 3. Catch the bottom of the ball while flexing the arm upward
- 4. Exaggerate the upward finish in practice; tone it down for game speed
Source:
Antonelli Baseball
