Will Lyons

Will is developing into a strong defensive catcher, and refining his transfer mechanics and lower-body drive will help him reduce pop time and improve throwing consistency.

One key adjustment is turning his glove when transferring instead of dropping the mitt. Dropping the mitt can create extra movement, slowing down the transfer and adding unnecessary time before the throw. By keeping his glove up and simply rotating it to the throwing hand, Will will be able to shorten his transfer time and maintain better hand positioning for a quicker release. Drills focused on rapid, efficient glove-to-hand transfers will help reinforce this habit and improve muscle memory.

Additionally, driving out low will allow Will to generate more energy and power into his throw. Staying low helps engage his legs more efficiently, allowing him to explode toward his target with more momentum. If he stands up too early, he risks losing both power and accuracy. He should focus on staying compact and pushing off his back leg explosively to maximize carry on his throws. Resistance band drills and explosive footwork work will help reinforce this movement pattern.

By refining his transfer technique and driving low out of his stance, Will will improve his pop time, throwing velocity, and accuracy, making him an even more effective defensive catcher.

Will has a strong foundation behind the plate, and refining his lower-body engagement and transfer speed will help him maximize arm strength and throwing efficiency.

One key focus is staying low and driving toward his target. By maintaining a compact, athletic stance and pushing explosively off his back leg, Will will generate more power from his lower half, allowing his arm to work more efficiently. A strong lower half is essential for maximizing velocity and carry, and keeping his momentum moving directly toward his target will create a more powerful and accurate throw. Drills emphasizing explosive leg drive, such as medicine ball throws and resistance band work, will reinforce this movement pattern.

Additionally, working on a quicker transfer will allow his arm to be on time with his body. A slow or inconsistent transfer can disrupt his timing and force his arm to compensate, reducing both strength and accuracy. By focusing on rapid glove-to-hand exchanges, Will will improve his ability to get the ball out quickly while maintaining a clean and repeatable throwing motion. Incorporating barehand transfer drills and quick reaction work will help develop the muscle memory necessary for a faster release.

By staying low and driving toward his target while refining his transfer speed, Will will significantly improve his throwing efficiency, arm strength, and accuracy, making him a more effective defensive catcher.

Will is developing into a solid receiver, and refining his body control and stability will help him become even more effective at framing pitches and earning called strikes for his pitchers.

A key focus is keeping his body still to calm his eyes. Excessive body movement can make it harder to track the ball cleanly, leading to less control when receiving pitches. By maintaining a quiet, balanced stance, Will will improve his ability to react naturally to different pitch locations while keeping his glove stable. Staying still also helps him avoid unnecessary adjustments, allowing for cleaner receptions and more consistent framing.

Additionally, quick, unnecessary movements with his whole body can trick the umpire into thinking a pitch was outside the zone. Sudden adjustments—whether shifting too much or overreacting to a pitch—can make borderline strikes appear as balls. Instead, Will should focus on subtle, controlled glove movements and let the pitch come to him rather than reaching or flinching at the last second. Framing drills that emphasize soft hands, controlled posture, and efficient movement will reinforce this habit.

By keeping his body still, calming his eyes, and maintaining quiet, efficient movements, Will will improve his ability to receive pitches cleanly and help his pitchers get more strike calls.

Will is developing into a strong and dependable blocker, and refining his body positioning and pitch awareness will help him become even more effective at controlling rebounds.

One key focus is tilting his chest over his knees when blocking. By keeping his upper body forward and centered over his base, he will be able to absorb the ball’s impact more effectively, reducing hard bounces and keeping the ball in front of him. This positioning also helps him stay balanced, making it easier to recover quickly and react to the next play. Drills that emphasize staying low and leading with the chest will help reinforce this technique.

Additionally, reading the pitch and reacting accordingly is crucial for efficient blocking. By improving his pitch tracking skills, Will will be able to anticipate breaking balls, low fastballs, and off-speed pitches more effectively, allowing him to position himself before the ball reaches the dirt. He should focus on early pitch recognition drills, tracking the ball out of the pitcher’s hand, and reacting based on trajectory and speed.

By tilting his chest forward for better ball control and improving his pitch recognition, Will will continue to develop into a high-level defensive catcher who minimizes passed balls and controls the running game effectively.