Rangers’ Young Pitches Find Guidance in Veteran Catcher Kyle Higashioka
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Jack Leiter threw the final pitch of his midweek bullpen last Wednesday and strolled from the faux mound toward the faux home plate in the backfields of the Texas Rangers’ spring training facility.
He high-fived catcher Kyle Higashioka, who’d caught his last big tune-up before his Cactus League debut, and started to chat. The exchange turned into a total analysis and breakdown of Leiter’s session and, in total, lasted more than 10 minutes before a member of Texas’ coaching staff worked their way into the discussion.
The Rangers signed Higashioka, 34, to a two-year contract this winter to pair him with incumbent starting catcher Jonah Heim. They wound up with an extension of the coaching staff for the Rangers’ horde of young pitchers.
"He’s taken the extra time to really help those guys progress and grow," Rangers catching coordinator Bobby Wilson said. "It doesn’t show up in the box score, right? But you see it on a daily basis. You see the attention to detail and the enthusiasm he has talking with those guys. That’s what those guys need, they need a veteran guy to guide them, to help them, to lead them."
Said Leiter: "I can already see that he shows a genuine interest in the pitchers, and what you’re trying to do, and what he thinks you should be trying to do. I think he’s going to make all the pitchers better."
Higashioka caught top pitching prospect Kumar Rocker’s Cactus League debut Tuesday vs. the Kansas City Royals. The 25-year-old right-hander let four batters reach (via two singles, a double and a hit by pitch) before Higashioka walked out for a mound visit.
Rocker struck out the next batter, Maikel Garcia, on three pitches.
"I think he’s big time," Rocker said. "Just to have a guy like that catching is awesome."
Wilson and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, both former major league catchers, are strong proponents of "peer-to-peer conversations" as the former described it Tuesday morning. Yes, the coaches must still coach, but certain messages resonate best on a player-to-player level. The often intimate pitcher-catcher relationship is ripe for that.
"They’re both in the fire together," Wilson said. "That kind of communication, it’s like, paramount to success for these guys."
Higashioka — and any of the Rangers’ veteran catchers — can serve as conduits for education and direction for Leiter, Rocker and any number of the young arms that will rise up the suddenly effective pitching pipeline that Texas has built. Here’s how Wilson described it: "It’s a segue that we can use, like, ‘Hey Higgy, we’ve really got to have Jack do this,’ or, ‘We’ve really got to have so-and-so do this.’"
"That’s what I ask of our catchers," Wilson said. "Be an extension of our pitching coaches, of our manager, and let’s promote the messages that we want."
It’s a role that suits Higashioka well.
"I think it’s something that I try to make one of my strengths," he said. "The experience part, I think, is really big, because just being able to learn from experiences I’ve had with other pitchers and maybe I see some of the same things in some of the younger guys coming up. If I can help them in some way develop and reach their potential then I think that’s a win for me."
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The exchange between Leiter and Higashioka is just one example of how the 34-year-old catcher is helping to guide the Rangers’ young pitching staff. With a wealth of experience and a keen eye for detail, Higashioka is well-positioned to make an impact on the 2023 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is Kyle Higashioka helping the Rangers’ young pitchers?
A: Higashioka is providing guidance and direction to the Rangers’ young pitchers, helping them to develop and reach their potential.
Q: What is the role of a veteran catcher in the Rangers’ organization?
A: A veteran catcher, like Higashioka, serves as an extension of the coaching staff and manager, helping to promote the messages and goals of the organization to the young pitchers.
Q: What is the key to success for the Rangers’ young pitchers?
A: A key to success for the Rangers’ young pitchers is strong communication and peer-to-peer conversations with their catchers, like Higashioka.
