The value of major league catchers’ ability to frame pitches has become clearer in recent seasons, and one of the stars of that movement was Jonathan Lucroy, the longtime Milwaukee Brewer.
By some measurements, Lucroy’s ability to favorably present pitches to umpires saved as much as 50 runs over the average catcher in a given season. As his backup for the last five years, new Angels catcher Martin Maldonado saw the praise Lucroy received, and those who observed Maldonado said it fueled him to improve in the area.