CATCHERS | Is Traditional Stance Outdated? 3 MLB Catchers & Coaches Answer the Question

More than half of MLB catchers now prefer to use one-knee-down stance.

And the current trend has that number is growing every year.

Some progressive MLB organizations have their lower-level catchers learning one-knee down almost exclusively!

So does that mean traditional stance is a thing of the past?

Is it a waste of time to learn and perfect it?

Many professional catchers and catching coaches say NO WAY. It’s absolutely still essential to learn traditional stance first.

But don’t take it from me. Let’s hear it directly from those involved:

🔵 Randy Knorr, Washington Nationals Catching Coordinator:

“Young [Low & High A, AA] catchers should learn to catch on two feet before mixing in a knee-down stance.” – Randy Knorr, Nats Catching Coordinator (Source)

He explained that a traditional stance is the base of catching, allowing catchers to block more pitches and be ready to throw out base stealers. Knorr, who has been coaching with the Nationals since 2005, wants them to master that before switching to a knee-down stance in Class AAA or the majors.

🔵 Ryan Lavarnway – Chicago Cubs MiLB Roving Catching Coach; Former Red Sox Catcher

“100% I recommend learning the traditional stances first.” – Ryan Lavarnway, Cubs Roving Catching Coach

According to Lavarnway (who is responsible for training up the Cubs up-coming catching talent), here’s why:

1. You should be able to do everything well. This is not a small matter. It can make the difference between success and failure. It is always good to have more options, more tools in your toolbox.
2. Those are the fundamentals of catching. No matter how advanced the techniques may get, those are ADVANCED techniques. And you can only start doing advanced techniques when you have the fundamentals down.
3. The more wild a pitcher is, the more you would have to be sacrificing to go to a knee. The reason Major League catchers can do it is because they are catching the most accurate pitchers in the world. At every level below that, you need more and more athleticism.
4. At youth, amateur, high school, and even college levels, they are not measuring the metrics in the same way… the advantages you gain from one knee are less. There are still benefits, but they are less measurable.
5. At the youth, high school, and college levels… controlling the running game is a HUGE deal. So knowing how to do that the most effectively is important. MOST catchers throw and block better from a traditional stance. SOME improve on a knee to a point where they can do it better… but like I said above, the traditional stance is part of the fundamentals… and the one knee stances are advanced on top of that knowledge

🔵 Riley Adams, Major League catcher, Washington Nationals

“Ideally, yeah, you could be knee-down in almost every situation, just because I think that gives the pitcher the best chance to succeed. But I’m not ever going to do that with two strikes because, for me, it’s not worth it,” Adams continued, “Some guys do. I admire them. But I need a blend of the two to get through a game and catch to the best of my ability. There’s a lot that goes into that.” – Riley Adams, MLB Catcher

So, if you’ve ever wondered if you should still be learning traditional stance, go ahead and put those doubts aside.

It’s true that some catchers will be better on one-knee.  Our Elite Catcher instructor Ryan Lavarnway’s receiving metrics improved 10-12% on the metrics immediately upon going to a one knee stance.  And in 2022, five of the six best blockers in MLB used a one-knee setup. 

But others will prefer traditional.  For example.. the #1 best blocker in baseball in 2022, Adley Rutschman, used a conventional setup.

And still others will always use a hybrid approach.

The ideal scenario is to learn both, side-by-side, in an age-appropriate way.

It’s important to know the pros and cons of each, and to begin to develop your own identity as a catcher. .

To master BOTH traditional and one knee stances, with the assistance from a Major League catcher and coach, check out the Elite Catcher training program.

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Play hard,

Doug Bernier

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Current Elite Catcher Members can login any time at the Academy at PBI – The all-new One Knee Stance Module, which includes blocking and throwing from one knee, is now available.

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– Tom Phillips – Father of 2 boys – Dayton, Ohio

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From Ryan Lavarnway’s Quarantine Challenge:

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“Yes! Ryan is the best thing that has happened to my 11 year old son. […] To have a pro catcher work with him has put a smile on his face. Ryan we can’t thank you enough.” – Mom of 11 year old, Ormand Beach, Florida

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I just want to thank Ryan as a dad as well as a coach. As a dad I can show my kid the drills, having a pro catcher explain it is better than dad doing it. From a Coach standpoint, it gives me the tools to help train my players wanting to play catcher.” – Father of catcher from Dallas, NC

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About Author

Ryan Lavarnway

Ryan Lavarnway is a Major League catcher who has caught for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Miami Marlins, & Detroit Tigers. Lavarnway was drafted out of Yale in 2008. In 2013, he earned a World Series ring with the Red Sox. He also caught for Team Israel in the 2017 (named “Pool A MVP” ) & 2018 World Baseball Classics, and the 2020 Olympics.