Catcher Ryan Jeffers wears a mic for FOX 9 as he embarks on the 2024 season with his teammates on the Minnesota Twins.
Well the Minnesota Twins had a remarkable run last season and they are looking to go even farther this year right now spring training is underway in Florida and fox9 sports director Jim Rich is there for us tonight he gives us a unique look behind the plate as we mic up Twins catcher Ryan
Jeffers of course back in the day when you played with your buddies in the backyard usually the catcher wasn’t the most gifted player well that position has evolved over the years especially when you get to the major leagues now it is one of the most important positions
If not the most important a drive to left field Ryan Jeffers is coming off a career year at the plate righty more Sinker slider yeah Lefty is foring change up but the 26-year-old may be more critical to the twin success behind it I think it’s me just a it’s I get to
Play the mental game I I get to be in control per se of of what pitches are called and you know it’s you’re kind of the quarterback on the field so I I think I enjoy that part of the game I love the game calling side of things
That’s really fun for me so you know I really enjoy it what’s the vert on that vo Jeff’s role behind the plate is complex framing pitches for strikes but also framing the pitcher Minds so that they have the trust in the calls he makes cutter more strikable for
You yeah than the sweeper M and I think G that trust and building that relationship is is extremely important for what we try and do day in and day out um I the pitcher has to trust me to make the right pitch calls and trust me
That I’m going get the job done and I got to trust him to bounce ideas back and forth so I think there’s a a mut Mutual relationship there symbiotic relationship that we both kind of built on trust manager Rocko Bal Deli knows it’s a lot the twins are asking of their
Catchers as they are practically playing two positions at once when you have to um make sure your skills are ready and that you are prepared to play but also you’re fully expected to be responsible for an for another player um and the guy that has the ball in his hand uh for the
Entire game on the mound that’s your responsibility too that’s a big deal it’s it’s a lot it takes a lot to be uh uh you know in charge of a lot of that um you know the the pitcher in charge of taking care of themselves too but it
Takes more than just the pitcher how’d you feel good good I thought it look good yeah everything coming out good really a sweeper was moving right yeah and the twins are counting on another big year from Jeffers in fact manager Rocko Bal Deli says Jeffers could be
Behind the plate for at least 100 games with the twins in Fort Meyers Jim Rich fox9 Sports
