Carter Weems

Carter is building strong blocking fundamentals, and refining his head positioning, glove movement, and overall blocking approach will make him even more effective at keeping balls in front.

One key adjustment is keeping his chin tucked when blocking. This ensures his eyes stay locked on the ball, allowing for better reaction and control of rebounds. A tucked chin also provides protection against deflections, keeping him in a strong defensive position. He should focus on low-velocity blocking drills to reinforce this habit, ensuring he maintains proper head positioning throughout the block.

Additionally, leading with his glove to the five-hole rather than trying to catch the ball will help him seal the gap and control rebounds more effectively. By placing his glove low between his legs, Carter will eliminate unnecessary openings and create a strong wall for the ball to hit. He should focus on quick glove placement drills, ensuring his glove moves first while his knees follow to complete the block.

Finally, Carter should trust his gear to absorb the ball’s impact rather than attempting to catch it. Proper blocking is about redirecting and controlling the ball, not catching it. By letting his chest protector and leg guards do the work, he will be able to deaden the ball’s bounce and keep it close. Drills focused on absorbing the impact and staying centered over the ball will reinforce this mindset.

By tucking his chin, leading with his glove to seal the five-hole, and trusting his gear, Carter will continue to develop into a high-level defensive catcher who limits passed balls and controls rebounds effectively.

Carter is developing strong receiving skills, and refining his glove control and framing technique will help him steal more strikes for his pitchers.

One key focus is limiting unnecessary glove movement when framing. Excessive motion can make pitches appear out of the zone, leading to fewer called strikes. Instead, Carter should focus on quiet, efficient movements, keeping his glove steady and making small, subtle adjustments to present the pitch properly.

When receiving glove-side pitches, rather than dropping his entire mitt into the zone, he should focus on rolling his wrist inward to frame the pitch naturally. This subtle movement will help him present the ball as a strike without making exaggerated motions that might cause an umpire to view the pitch as outside the zone. He should work on framing drills that emphasize wrist control and minimal movement, ensuring his presentation is strong and consistent.

By limiting glove movement and refining his framing technique, Carter will improve his ability to stick pitches cleanly and earn more strike calls for his pitchers, making him an even more effective receiver behind the plate.