Wolters provides infield skills behind the plate

DENVER -- The Rockies’ Tony Wolters is all catcher now, but he maintains the feelings of playing in the middle infield -- where he played until his original organization, the Indians, converted him to catcher in 2013.

“Whenever [shortstop] Trevor Story gets those plays that are to his right and to his left, I'm like, 'I know the feeling of making a cool play like that,’” said Wolters, who debuted in the Majors in 2016 after the Rockies claimed him off waivers. “As a catcher, when you throw someone out, you’re doing something for the team -- gaining another out and helping the pitcher out.”

Statistically, Wolters ranks sixth in the National League in caught stealing rate (44.4 percent, 8-of-18) -- much improved from 10-for-30 for all of last year, in part-time play. Three other successes weren’t counted as caught stealings. On one he didn’t receive credit because umpires ruled an automatic out on batter’s interference, and twice he threw out runners trying to advance on pitches in the dirt.

Wolters has taken middle infield techniques and tools -- specifically, quick hands and feet -- to become a solid defender against the run game. According to Statcast, his main trait is a 0.65 average exchange time (from catch to release) – third-fastest in the Majors.

The exchange makes up for a 78.3 mph average on throws to second, which ranks 34th among 42 Major Leaguers with at least five such throws, and a slightly above-average 1.98-second “pop time” -- from catch to the throw reaching second base. (Fans, follow the link below and toggle the various categories.)

• Statcast catcher pop time leaderboard

The quick exchange, part of what makes him a catcher who draws the eyes of fans, comes from middle-infield skills and thought processes. Here’s how:

Double-play feet: First, right foot.

“When I think of a double play and I'm at second base, I have my left foot on the base, and then as I'm catching the ball, my right foot's hitting,” said Wolters, who has helped offensively -- .294 going into Friday night’s start against the Orioles. “So I think of it kind of the same thing as when I'm catching, I'm getting prepared to where when I catch it, this right foot hits down very closely.”

Then the left.

“It's like a boom [with the right foot], and then a hover and then when you throw it and your [left] foot lands,” he said. “If you rush, you're not going to probably put it on the base, but when you're feeling good, it's a very smooth feeling.”

Middle infield hands: On the double-play pivot at second base, the infielder should have his throwing hand beside the glove, and make sure they move together to catch and exchange.

Catchers prefer to keep their free hand protected from foul balls, but Wolters noted, “I try to keep the hands on the same level,” parallel to the ground.

Memories of the tag: In the first inning Friday night at Philadelphia, Wolters caught Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura at second with first base-side throws that made for easy tags for second baseman Brendan Rodgers -- making his big-league debut. He became the first Rockies catcher with two caught stealings in one inning since Charles Johnson on May 17, 2003.

“I feel like I can throw it a lot harder,” Wolters said. “It's just I don't think I have as much control if I can just put it right on the base just using my wrist.”

Know what’s coming: The Rockies' Twitter account often pops up this warning: “Don’t dash on the ‘stache,” -- a reference to a mustache Wolters grew in a friendly one-upmanship with his father-in-law.

But his facial hair has less to do with opponents taking chances than who is on the mound. The best example is righty Jon Gray, who in the past took 1.6-1.8 seconds to get the ball to the plate. Gray has trimmed that to 1.4-1.5 this year, according to Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster, who added, “We want them to try to run.”

The two caught stealings in an inning occurred with Gray on the mound. But the combo’s best moment came May 11, when the Padres’ Greg Garcia had a good jump only to have Wolters produce a 0.6-second exchange time to throw him out.

Practice all this stuff: Before warming up the starting pitcher, Wolters joyously treks to the bullpen with bullpen catcher Aaron Munoz, who played the position in the Minors, and goes through a quick receiving, throwing and blocking routine -- all so he can move like an infielder while catching.

“If I’m talking to kids, the biggest thing is having fun and not taking your athleticism away -- not using your thoughts to distract you,” Wolters said.

Updates
The Rockies optioned righty reliever Yency Almonte (0-0, 2.45 ERA in eight games) to Triple-A Albuquerque while calling up Friday night's starter Jeff Hoffman. … Charlie Blackmon, nursing a right calf issue, did not take batting practice and was out of the starting lineup Friday. … The Rockies have sent outfielder Noel Cuevas (on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain) to Albuquerque for an injury rehab assignment. … Lefty reliever Harrison Musgrave on Friday had his first throwing session since landing on the 10-day IL on May 4 with a left flexor tendon strain.