Pop Time
The time from a pitch hitting the catcher's mitt to the ball reaching the fielder's glove at second base on a steal attempt.
Pop time measures the catcher's whole throwing sequence - receiving, transferring, and releasing - as one number, because those three things are only useful together. A catcher with a strong arm and a slow transfer does not throw runners out.
It is measured on a stopwatch or with timing equipment, from mitt pop to glove at second. Because it bundles footwork, transfer, and arm strength, it is one of the more coachable numbers in the game: transfer and footwork improve quickly with repetition in a way that arm strength does not.
In youth baseball, stolen bases are frequently decided by whether the catcher can get the ball to second at all rather than by tenths of a second, so the number is most useful as a progress marker for one player over a winter rather than as a comparison between players.
What is pop time for a catcher?
The elapsed time from the pitch hitting the catcher's mitt to the ball arriving at the fielder's glove at second base. It measures receiving, transfer, and arm together.
How can a catcher improve pop time?
Mostly through footwork and transfer, which respond quickly to repetition. Arm strength improves far more slowly, which is why transfer work is the usual winter focus.
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