INDIANAPOLIS – He gave up two consecutive singles to start the fifth inning, prompting catcher Jacob Stallings to make a mound visit.
Jameson Taillon had cruised through the first four innings of his outing against Columbus on May 19. But with a 4-0 lead, he eased up a little bit to start that fifth inning.
Enter Stallings. The message he gave Taillon was simple, but needed. And it worked. Taillon struck out the next two batters and worked out of the jam.
“He came out and got on me a little bit, saying, ‘It’s go time and let’s get after it,’” Taillon said. “He kind of knows when to push your buttons.”
The value Stallings provide doesn’t typically come from his offense. Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor has one main expectation for any of his catchers, noting the conversations he’s had with Stallings are similar to those he had in the past with former prospect Tony Sanchez.
“You have to take ownership of the pitching staff,” Treanor said. “You have to make sure these guys develop. This is what they have to do and it’s up to you to get this done. I think he’s taken a hold of that. We’re going to have some glitches, but he’s done a nice job back there.”
That’s especially important this season, as the entire starting rotation is made up of prospects, including Taillon, Tyler Glasnow, and Chad Kuhl. Each of those pitchers have different aspects they’re working on, and it’s up to Stallings to make sure he calls a game that fits those developmental needs.
Glasnow, for example, is being pushed to throw more changeups. So, while that may not be his best pitch at the moment, Stallings still needs to call for plenty of changeups. He also works with the staff to make sure they’re throwing inside on a consistent basis, which simply fits with the approach the organization wants out of its pitchers.
“I think it’s getting with [pitching coach Stan Kyles] and the pitcher before the game and really knowing their plan going into the game,” Stallings said. “Usually we take about one thing we want to work on, but then other than that it’s going out competing and trying to get outs.”
Pitchers seemingly rave about throwing to Stallings. He’s been with some of them — Glasnow, for example — during previous stops in Bradenton and Altoona.
“He’s the best catcher I’ve ever thrown to,” Glasnow said. “I’m comfortable throwing to him and he knows what I’m doing. I’ve thrown to him so long, he has an idea of [what I’m trying to do].”
But it’s not just being around some of these pitchers for so long that enables Stallings to create a positive relationship with the pitching staff. It’s also his defense behind the plate.
Stallings has thrown out 37 percent of attempted base runners this season, comparable to the 36 percent he threw out last season at Altoona.
“He throws guys out, even when I’m slow to the plate,” Glasnow said.
Treanor and Glasnow both highlighted how well Stallings blocks the plate, which is especially important as young pitchers continue to develop pitches that can be erratic at times. Any uneasiness about control of a developing pitch is lessened with the feeling Stallings will likely block any wild pitches.
And there’s a confidence with how Stallings frames pitches. That goes beyond getting a borderline pitch called a strike. It goes into how cleanly he catches the pitches.
“It’s about a confidence factor for a pitcher,” Taillon said. “If he’s framing your pitches, making them look good, and making the glove pop and sticking it every time, it makes you feel a lot sharper and crisper. That builds some confidence.”
Treanor noted how Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli is known for his ability to frame pitches. Pitchers need to have confidence the catcher will work to get them strikes, Treanor said, noting players such as Cervelli and Stallings fit that mold.
“I think [Cervelli’s] one of the top [catchers] about the borderline pitch and being able to really frame that,” Treanor said. “Pitchers, there’s a thing about how you feel, especially when a catcher sets up. How they set up where you feel that you can just throw the ball right into their body. I think with [Stallings], he’s jumped to this level.”
Stallings wants to emulate Pirates backup catcher Chris Stewart, as both players have comparable defensive abilities. Stallings is working to develop the trust from coaches and pitchers to be someone who can execute a game plan and provide solid defensive skills.
“I think that priority No. 1 is to be a smart catcher,” Stallings said. “I think that’s why Chris Stewart has been so good for the Pirates. He’s extremely cerebral and can read swings, can call a game, and really show pitchers that he cares. I think that’s why they value him so much. I just try to do that with these guys here.”
Earlier this season, Treanor asked Stallings what his goals were for himself. His answer was to do whatever was needed to help the team.
“I asked him that question and he didn’t have a strong enough answer for me,” Treanor said. “He has the answer that everybody does. But I made him come up with a stronger answer on what he wants to do with his career. I think he’s on the right track.”
Stallings changed his answer to wanting to become a major league catcher. But Stallings isn’t aloof about his goals, but instead tries to worry about what he can control — himself.
The Pirates recently signed Cervelli to a three-year contract extension, after signing backup Chris Stewart to a two-year extension prior to the season. And the organization has two other highly ranked prospects — Elias Diaz and Reese McGuire — at the position. That could be plenty to worry about for someone like Stallings, but he says there’s no need to add stress to his life.
“I just try not to worry about it because you never know what could happen,” Stallings said. “If I sit here all bummed out because those guys are extended, or prospects are coming up, it’s just going to bog me down and hurt my development.”
The one drawback on Stallings is his offensive ability. He’s only hitting .204 this season, after hitting a career-best .275 last season in Altoona. But prior to that, he never hit above .241 in a season.
Stallings admitted it can be hard to focus on his own individual game with the time he spends working with the pitching staff. Treanor said that the time Stallings spends working with pitchers is no reason why he can’t still develop his own game.
“I don’t think so,” Treanor said. “We talk about what he has to do on the days he’s not catching. I think he will be doing that a little more conscientiously now. When you get a day off, it’s not a day off. It’s a day away from the game for you to get better.”
And the more Stallings improves his offensive output, the more likely he will reach his goal of being a major league catcher. That’s really the only thing that probably could keep him from reaching that goal. His defensive ability behind the plate is well above-average. And he’s shown he can earn the trust of a pitching staff.
Now, it’s just a matter of earning the trust of a major league team to give him a chance.
