Ohio State Baseball Season Preview: The Catchers
2/16/2022 4:17:34 PM | Baseball
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State is in the unique position of having two experienced catchers on the roster who both decided to come back for the extra year that was allowed due to the COVID-19 eligibility changes. Brent Todys backed up Buckeye standout Dillon Dingler for two seasons while starting primarily as a designated hitter before taking on the role of starting catcher in 2021, and is back for sixth year in the program. Todys has appeared in 105 games while slashing .260/.356/.413 with 11 home runs and 66 RBI in his career, and will handle the primary catching duties. Sixth-year senior Archer Brookman has the coaches’ trust behind the plate as well, and will split time with Todys while also filling out the lineup as a designated hitter. Brookman started 22 games in 2021, reaching base 36 times with 14 walks and four home runs on the year. Beals, a catcher during his playing days at Kent State and three minor league seasons in the New York Mets organization, has confidence in his veteran catcher group
“I love our catchers,” Beals said. “These guys have been with us for a while now. They’re fifth year guys and great leaders. They are great managers of the game and of the pitching staff. Both of them do just a fabulous job behind the plate.”
Freshman Trey Pancake will get valuable experience behind Todys and Brookman, who are both nearly five years older than Pancake and will show the young backstop the way in his first season in the program. Coach Beals is hopeful that Pancake will be a key piece to the puzzle going forward in Ohio State’s catching plans.
“Trey Pancake a freshman who is learning the ropes, and he’s in a really good spot because he gets to see Todys and Brookman work on a daily basis,” Beals said. “Trey’s got a great arm and I’m excited about him.”
Beals identified holding runners and catching baserunners stealing as a key point of emphasis heading into the 2022 season.
“We’ve worked on our throwing game,” Beals said. “If you look at last year, we gave up more stolen bases than we certainly would like to. We’ve worked and certainly improved on the throwing game. I’m excited about these two guys – I’m excited about what they mean this team as a whole and I really like what they do behind home plate.”
The Buckeyes are set to open the season on Friday, Feb. 18, against Marshall at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla.
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