STARKVILLE — Mississippi State catcher Elih Marrero throws a lot more than he used to.
The added responsibility is part of the job description of catching for MSU first-year head coach Andy Cannizaro.
“He loves to run, run, run, run, run,” said Marrero, a sophomore. “I think we throw out about 75 percent. It’s something like that, but he doesn’t care. He wants us to go, go, go, and go.”
Marrero, redshirt senior Josh Lovelady, and freshman Dustin Skelton are all adjusting to life under Cannizaro. They also are battling for the starting role. They will get their first chance to make an impact at 4 p.m. Friday when the MSU baseball team plays host to 2016 College World Series participant Texas Tech at Dudy Noble Field. MSU will play Western Illinois at 4 p.m. Saturday and Western Illinois (noon) and Texas Tech (3 p.m.) Sunday.
“That’s a spot this year I have a tremendous amount of confidence in,” said Cannizaro, adding he expects all three to play; “Anytime you can go into a season with three catchers, you have a tremendous comfort level with that.
“In that position, you’re only one foul tip off the wrist or a foul tip off the finger, and those guys can go down pretty quickly. If you have to find a position player that can go back there, it can put a lot of stress on your pitching staff, and it can put a lot of stress on your team.”
Marrero hit .233 in 43 games last season. He started 35 games at catcher after Lovelady was injured four games in and missed the rest of the season. Jack Kruger started 20 games at catcher last season for the Bulldogs, but he signed a professional contract with the Los Angeles Angels after hitting .344 with eight home runs and 44 RBI in his only season in Starkville.
Skelton comes to MSU as the sixth-ranked prospect and second-best catcher in the state of Mississippi, according to Perfect Game, an industry leader in showcasing and scouting high school-age baseball talent. Skelton has impressed with his ability to hit in college. He has gone through nearly the entire preseason program without striking out.
“I just get in the box ready to hit,” Skelton said. “(I am) looking for a fastball; get early in the count and when I see a fastball, I’m swinging. If they throw me a breaking pitch, I’m laying off; I’m looking for something straight I can hit hard.”
Skelton’s projected impact isn’t surprising to classmate Riley Self, who played baseball with Skelton growing up and was a teammate of his at Magnolia Heights in Senatobia. Self joked Skelton has been his catcher since they were 13 years old.
“In high school, he never struck out,” Self said. “He’s always a little base hit here, little base hit there, punch it through a hole. Now, his whole mentality and approach has changed. He’s coming up there attacking fastballs. It’s been amazing to see him grow as a player.”
Said Marrero, “Balls that are three-fourths off the plate, he’s out there getting a barrel on them and getting doubles.”
While Skelton might be a work in progress on defense, Cannizaro has seen improvement. Skelton credits much of that to one of the players he is competing with for playing time.
“I have Josh Lovelady helping me out a lot. He’s going to be a big part in my catching career here because I’m going to keep in touch with him as much as I can when he leaves next year,” Skelton said. “He’s been helping me out a lot with blocking, receiving, everything. He’s had a big impact in my career here.”
Marrero and Lovelady bring different skills to the position to provide plenty of depth.
“Josh Lovelady has incredible leadership ability,” Cannizaro said. “He’s the best guy we have in terms of handling the staff, his maturity level, being able to communicate with our pitchers, and being able to guide them in how we want to get pitchers out. Elih Marrero is probably our most athletic guy behind the plate. (He) can really throw. (He is a) switch hitter, a lot of energy, plays fast, and loves playing baseball.”
As Lovelady has for Skelton, Marrero anticipates the catchers will help each another to make the team better.
“We’re here to win games. That’s the key factor,” he said. “This is not about me or about you. It’s about Mississippi State.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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