A young catcher is comparable to a rookie quarterback in the NFL. The position is unique and hard to develop. They have to field and hit like every other position player, but a good signal caller also knows how to work a pitcher. In the Majors, the catcher operates as another coach on the field. The skilled ones call the game and guide pitchers through tight spots. They pick up nuances from the other team and relay that to the boss. The position requires intelligence and a manager’s understanding of the game.

In youth leagues, catchers are not taught game management. Even at the college level, coaches signal pitches from the bench. As a result, most catchers must spend additional time in the minors before they are ready for the bigs. Offense suffers due to the defensive demands of the position. Catching is physically challenging too. It takes a toll on the body, shortening the careers of most. Maintaining longevity and offensive production is arduous. There is a long list of former catchers that were moved because their bats were too valuable, e.g. Craig Biggio, Carlos Delgado, and Dale Murphy. What if the Cubs had left Santo at catcher? Would he have been the same player? It’s doubtful, at least from an offensive perspective. He may have never played a game in Wrigley Field.

I was saddened to hear of Ron Santo’s death earlier this week. He was a true ambassador for the game of baseball and his exclusion from the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA is shameful. Ron Santo will be missed.

I’m not declaring Nolan Arenado the next Ron Santo, far from it. The Rockies can only hope that Nolan emulates Santo’s career. Their beginnings are similar. Prior to the 2009 draft, most scouts had Arenado — a thick legged kid with a big arm — pegged as a future catcher. His underdeveloped build caused many evaluators to mislabel the young Californian. Few saw his potential as a third baseman. One scout wrote that Arenado had a build like a Molina brother or Yorvit Torrealba, even though he is three inches taller than those guys. Fortunately for Nolan, he was drafted in the second round by the Rockies, a team that saw him as a three bagger.
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