Who controlled the running game the best in the Pirates system this season?

Looking at the best defensive catchers when it comes to controlling the running game in 2024

With the new rules regarding how often a pitcher can make a pick-off attempt, we have seen an increase in stolen bases over the past couple of seasons.

That makes having a catcher capable of controlling the run game much more important. It means that they will allow more stolen bases than in years prior, but they still need to show an ability to be a threat with the arm.

Digging through the minors, I wanted to figure out who did the best at controlling the run game in the Pirates’ system and who did better (or worse) than their career mark.

As expected, most players with enough experience in the minors saw a decrease in their career marks due to the stricter limits on pitcher pickoffs, but we still managed to see some players improve in 2024.

First, a look at the 10 best catchers in the Pirates’ system when it comes to throwing runners out during the 2024 season: