Title says it all - when a reliever warms up in the bullpen, who catches for him? Does the backup catcher spend the game in the bullpen? Often you’ll see two pitchers warming up, so they have to have at least 2 catchers out there. Is it a special team employee, or do they bring minor league prospects or college players to catch for them?
Backup catchers or a pitching coach will sometimes do it.
Mike Scioscia has been known to catch a few pitches with some of his pitchers in spring training.
I think it varies. Sometimes there is a designated bullpen catcher. I think there are also coaches that will catch in the bullpen. When the bullpens are on the field of play, there will usually be a coach or player standing guard against foul balls.
Teams have a “Bullpen Catcher” who is not on the roster, and is usually a former college player from the town they are in. His one and only job is to warm up pitchers. They are paid little and usually last a year or two, until the excitement of the job wears off.
When two pitchers need to warm up at the same time, a coach handles the job.
Elrod Hendrix does in Baltimore…he’s been with the team something like 46 years, both as a player and bullpen coach.
Dana Levangie is finishing his eighth year in the job for Boston, following 6 playing in their minor-league system.
Doug Witt (Brother of pitcher Bobby Witt) was the Rangers bullpen catcher from 1992 to 1998, when he underwent surgery to remove a rib.
Click here for a heartwarming story about the current Rangers bullpen catcher, Nate Lasseter.
Pash
So, how little is ‘little’ when talking about bullpen catcher’s pay?
And while we’re at it, what do pitching coaches, trainers and other skilled-but-not-players make?
Quercus wants to know!