The Pittsburgh Pirates took an alternative route in an attempt to shore up a pitching staff that allowed the third most runs in all of baseball last season.
Not only did they go out and sign a couple of free agents (as well as taking a pitcher in the Rule 5), they also signed one of the best defensive catchers in all of baseball, Austin Hedges.
There will be a day when the automated strike zone system used in the minors is brought up to the majors, making the skill obsolete. Until then, pitch framing will be a big part of a catcher’s game.