FORT MYERS, Fla. -- For as long as baseball has existed, teams have worried about having enough pitching.
In 2022, that hasn't changed. Indeed, with spring training cut in half this year thanks to the lockout, teams are more concerned than ever with having sufficient mound depth. Rosters are being expanded to 28 for the first month and most teams have signaled their plans to use spots No. 27 and 28 on extra pitching to deal with the potential early-season shortages.
But in some organizations, there's also the realization that, independent of the short spring, catching, too, is in short supply. In many ways, the position has never been more important or, tougher to address.
Teams tend to hoard whatever premium catching talent their organization develops, knowing that replacing it will be next-to-impossible.
And in the Red Sox' case, they're looking to uncover potential catching options in unlikely places. No fewer than four prospects -- none of whom was originally drafted or signed primarily as a catcher -- are being converted to backstops this spring.
They include:
* Stephen Scott, drafted out of college as an outfielder in 2019
* Daniel McElheny, drafted out of high school as an infielder in 2019
* Alex Erro, drafter out of college as an infielder in 2019
* Alex Zapete, an international free agent signed as a first baseman in 2018.
The reason the Sox -- and other organizations -- are casting such a wide net in search of catching are varied. But first and foremost, it's about the increased importance of the position.
"The demands of the position in terms of leadership, game-calling and being able to understand everything that that job requires now are arguably greater than they've ever been,'' said president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. "There's more preparation that we can do now. Because we have more information, the job of really simplifying it is harder. Ultimately, we need to make everything actionable. It's about putting the pitcher in a good and confident position.
"We have a lot of help with that with our coaching staff and our support staff. But it's really important that the guy behind the plate understands what that means for each individual pitcher and what individual pitcher needs to be set up for success.''
"I don't know that it's necessary (the result of) a shortage at the position. I think it's more about the value of the position on both sides of the ball,'' said Brian Abraham, Red Sox director of player development. "If you have someone who can handle a game, catch throw, handle a pitching staff, that's obviously an incredibly important. And someone who can provide some offensive impact as well. If you have that as well you're looking at an incredibly valuable person for a team and an organization.''
Some of it is also a matter of attrition, and the more candidates you have as potential future options, the better off you are as an organization.
"A lot of it is just willingness to get back there,'' said Abraham. "It's a hard position, especially starting out in the minors. It's probably the (player) who works the hardest and is on the field the most. You get probably the fewest swings (as a hitter) but also the most reps defensively, If you find guys who want to do that, you want to give them the opportunity and encourage them to do so.''
With some of the players in question, the switch to catching duties came after some time in the organization and a feeling on the part of coaches or instructors that a particular prospect might sense as a catcher. For others, such as McElveny, it was borne out of a recommendation by Red Sox area scout J.J. Altobelli, who quizzed McElveny about his willingness to try the position even before he was drafted last summer.
"A couple of games into my high school season,'' said McElveny, ''(Altobelli) asked my high school coach if I could catch a couple of innings. So I hopped back there and gave it a shot. I enjoyed it. And then as the draft came closer, they were asking me, 'If you signed, would you be fine switching to catcher?' At that point, I was all in, so I was down for the transition.''
Altobelli told McElveny that he was impressed with his athleticism and thought it might translate well to behind the plate.
"Having an athletic catcher would be a benefit,'' McElveny recounted, "and I'm sure my hit tool also helped.''
Indeed, whereas teams once looked for muscular, stout body types as their catching archetype, they now value athleticism. Teams want catchers who are free and mobile enough to move around and adapt as the position evolves.
One big evolution in the position in recent seasons is the industry-wide move to the one-knee style of catching. Instead of asking catchers to squat on both legs, wreaking habit on both knees and lower back, most catchers have adapted to the far less punishing one-knee style.
"It's quite a bit less taxing,'' said Red Sox coach Jason Varitek, who served as the team's number one catcher for most of his 15 seasons while with Boston. "A smaller-framed person can now withstand the durability part of it. The quick-twitch, more athletic body, someone you might otherwise see playing shortstop, could now be someone you want to take a look at (behind the plate). The grind of being back there has lessened, opening some doors of opportunity. At the same time, it's allowed for bigger, less mobile guys to catch and be effective. And if they can hit, it's less taxing and they can be offensive contributors longer.''
Even as the position has become less demanding physically, teams now recognize the value to preserve their best catchers by having them catch less often. Where backup catchers used to catch perhaps one a week and get only 30 starts or so per season, now a No. 2 catcher might catch 60 or more games.
The physical demands of the job may not be what they once were, but it still requires work, work and more work. It's imperative that catchers build trust with members of the pitching staff, and there are no shortcuts in forming those relationships.
Add in the mountain of data and analytics available to catchers -- both regarding their batterymates and their stuff, but also, the detailed scouting reports that need devouring. If the job doesn't beat you up as much physically as it once did -- home plate collisions have all but been banned -- the mental demands are greater than ever.
"Catching is one of those positions you have to love to play,'' said Scott, who caught regularly in high school but played mostly outfield and some first base at Vanderbilt. "It presents its own challenges. You have to be patient, and you have to want to do it. I love being involved, controlling the game. You have to think on your feet, and making those relationships with the pitchers. I think I always tried to connect with teammates, but as a catcher, it's that much more important. You have to work with that guy on the mound and try to get his best stuff out of him.
"Mentally, you have to be able to turn the page when things aren't going right at the plate and make sure that that doesn't carry over to the defensive side. The demands are huge, which is one reason some people don't like it. It's not for everybody. But it's part of the reason I love it."
Every Red Sox official contacted for this story noted the hunt for additional catching in the organization was not a reflection of the Sox' catching options.
But a look at the organizational depth chart shows it's one of the thinnest positions in the system. Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki, the tandem at the major league level, are eligible for free agency after this season. At Triple A, the Sox have Connor Wong and Ronaldo Hernandez, both acquired in trades. Both have considerably more developing to do before being ready to for permanent promotion to the big leagues.
A few years back, the Red Sox thought they had their catcher for the future in 17-year old Daniel Flores, a prized international free agent from Venezuela. But Flores tragically passed away from cancer, less than a year after signing with the Sox, and now, the Sox lack a true blue-chip catching prospect.
It's possible that one of the four converted players may ultimately blossom into that role, but it will take time. The position may be evolving, but it remains a steep learning curve.
"It's so hard to catch you might need to sort through more guys to find someone who can really do the job well,'' noted Bloom. "The other things that makes it more difficult to find opportunity. Outfielders, we have three spots. Infielders, we can move them around. But there's only one catcher at a time and so there's only so many innings you can divvy up behind the plate. So it forces it you to make constant choices -- that If you have a lot of guys who are interesting, a lot of guys that have upside -- aren't always the easiest to make.''
Fortunately, the Red Sox have no shortage of instructors in spring training. In addition to Varitek, there's Double A manager Chad Epperson, who previously served as the team's minor league catching coordinator. There's also Luke Montz, newly named as manager at Low A Salem, had a 12-year pro career as a catcher.
That's plenty of instruction and expertise available to the players giving catching a try.
And so, the search continues. Increasingly, teams are willing to look anywhere and everywhere for potential solutions. Correspondingly, prospects see the willingness of teams to consider position-switches represents a possible path to the big leagues.
"I think guys are always looking for opportunities,'' said Abraham. "If they're willing to put in the work, get a foundation of mechanics and fundamentals with us, they can have an impact and a chance to play. We're always on the lookout for catchers, whether because of turnover or playing time, we need a lot of them and it's important to have depth.''