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Kyle Higashioka’s framing is a boon for the Yankees’ pitching staff

Statcast has changed the lexicon of the typical baseball fan. Exit velocity and hard-hit rate have become important stats to follow for hitters, while things like spin rate and pitch velocity are their pitching equivalent. For catchers, framing is the term of the moment.

Framing, or the delicate art of stealing strikes by a catcher, can impact the outcome of a game because it directly impacts the outcome of virtually every at-bat. Evidently, it’s not the same, for a hitter, to face the opposing team’s starter, setup man, or closer in an important spot down 1-2 than up 2-1 in the count.