Matt Thaiss had made the long journey up the mountain to the major leagues, but he remained lost when he reached the summit.
Thaiss was a catcher before reaching pro ball with the Angels organization, and he predominately played first and third base when he reached MLB.
It'd been difficult for Thaiss to make the adjustment to the major league level, slashing .217/.321/.319 as recently as the 2022 season while still bouncing around the diamond.
That all turned when the Angels changed course with Thaiss, putting the catcher by trade back behind the plate in 2023.
So far, the 28 year old is rewarding his team with his best hitting season as a major leaguer -- slashing .269/.377/.385 for the Halos.
On the defensive side of things, Thaiss is proving himself to be a more than capable big league backstop, showcasing his ability as a pitch framer and also being solid at blocking pitches.
That play has earned the admiration of Angels catching coach Drew Butera, as the 12-year MLB backstop said this to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register about his protege.
“He’s put himself in a really good position to receive and frame balls,” Angels catching coach Drew Butera said. “I think his throwing has improved tremendously. And I think it kind of goes with every catcher, but his game calling, the more you do it, the better you get at it.”
Thaiss is more comfortable now that he's at long last found his home on the diamond, and him being settled at the catcher spot has unlocked an extra sense of calm for him at the plate.
“I feel really comfortable behind the dish,” Thaiss said. “And I think that helps with being at the plate too. Obviously, I’m still working real hard behind the plate, just to fine-tune things every day. But to be comfortable in a position where I’m not stressed about being in the field is nice.” (via Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register)
In a game as mentally taxing as baseball, the fact that Thaiss has found the place where he's most at ease has paid dividends for himself and the Angels, and their new catcher may have found the position that's finally his in the major leagues.
A homecoming, if you will. One that's working out for everybody.
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