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Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe returns to old-school defensive style

May 13, 2025

SAN DIEGO — Logan O’Hoppe finally got fed up with doing something that was uncomfortable, especially since it wasn’t even working.

The Angels catcher had always caught with two feet on the ground until he got to the major leagues and was molded into the one-knee-down style that has swept across the sport.

The conventional wisdom was that catching on one knee allowed a catcher to get lower, which helped him frame pitches better. That came without any deterioration in blocking ability, and fresher knees.

Except, O’Hoppe doesn’t believe any of that was true for him.

So a couple of weeks ago, he and catching coach Jerry Narron decided to scrap it. Since April 29 in Seattle, O’Hoppe has caught exclusively the “old school” way, with both of his feet on the ground.

“The numbers weren’t as good on my receiving and blocking, and that pissed me off, to be honest with you,” O’Hoppe said. “What bothered me even more than that was that I didn’t feel like myself behind the plate either.”

Narron, who caught for eight years in the big leagues in the 1970s and ’80s, said he felt O’Hoppe was better when he began catching on two feet at certain times late last season, so he fully endorsed switching back to it full time.

“He’s really, really athletic,” Narron said. “He’s probably the most athletic catcher in baseball. If not, one of the top. And he moves well on his feet. It’s a really, really good tool, so why hide it in the toolbox somewhere to not use it?”

Just about every other catcher in the majors – with the exception of the Dodgers’ Austin Barnes and the Texas Rangers’ Kyle Higashioka – now catches every pitch of every game on one knee.

O’Hoppe has only caught eight games on two feet, but the early numbers have been encouraging.

Prior to April 29, O’Hoppe ranked 30th of 32 catchers in getting called strikes on pitches defined as “borderline” pitches. Since then, he’s 16th of 28.

“I feel like it’s been better,” O’Hoppe said. “I’ve noticed a couple more calls, and I think that’s all that matters.”

O’Hoppe said in particular that “misfires” – when he is set up on the inside corner and the pitch comes over the outside corner – are ones that he’s better able to get called strikes now.

For the season, O’Hoppe is in the 5th percentile in framing and 6th percentile in blocking, making him one of the worst at both. He’s betting that those numbers will improve as he continues catching this way.

“Getting back to my rawest form of catching, and it’s been way more comfortable,” O’Hoppe said. “I felt more mobile. I feel less taxed, like my body’s in a better position. I’m not moving. I’m physically not moving as much as I was in the past. And it’s been a big change so far.”

Although it’s counterintuitive to think that squatting would be less taxing than putting your weight on one knee, O’Hoppe said he felt like being on one knee was like “doing a wall sit.” Now, he can actually sit back on his heels to get a break. He also said there’s less strain on his upper body because he’s not reaching as much.

“My body feels way better now at the end of the day,” O’Hoppe said.

Narron said others around the game have taken note of O’Hoppe going against the trend of one-knee catching.

“I’ve had some other catching guys come up to me and talk about Logan, how good he looks being on his feet,” Narron said. “A couple of them said, ‘Can you talk to my guy?’”

Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe says he's more comfortable in a traditional catching position rather than playing on one knee, as so many do now. He tried the one knee approach but thinks switching back is already helping him defensively. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) — Toronto Blue Jays’ Daulton Varsho, left, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

TROUT UPDATE

Mike Trout ran on the Alter G treadmill on Monday in San Diego. The Alter G allows someone to run or walk without their full body weight on the joints. Trout is rehabbing a bruised left knee.

Once he progresses from the Alter G to running on the field, a timeline for his return will be much more clear.

Trout started doing some hitting a few days ago.

NOTES

Luis Rengifo was out of the lineup for the second straight game because Manager Ron Washington wanted to give him “a chance to clear his head.” Rengifo has been having a bad year at the plate, and last week he was pulled from a game because he lost track of the outs while he was playing second base. …

Right-hander George Klassen, who was hit in the head by a line drive in a Double-A game on Sunday, was alert and improving, while still being evaluated on Monday, the Angels said. Klassen is one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects. …

Outfielder Taylor Ward was at designated hitter on Monday. Washington planned to give him two straight games at DH, but on Sunday they chose to use Jorge Soler at DH because he was coming back from a groin issue.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP José Soriano, 2-4, 4.00 ERA) at Padres (RHP Dylan Cease, 1-2, 4.91 ERA), Tuesday, 6:40 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM

Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe returns to old-school defensive style Orange County Register

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Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe returns to old-school defensive style

TROUT UPDATE

NOTES

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