Already thriving at third, Iacono learns to catch

After the end of last year, the baseball team found itself with only one catcher returning for the next season, junior Zach Wendkos.

This situation was especially unfortunate since the player deficiency concerned catching, the most strenuous and demanding position in baseball day-in and day-out, where having a backup is absolutely critical to success.

So head coach Shawn Bradley turned to an unlikely candidate, sophomore Sal Iacono, who had played nothing but third base throughout his high school and college career, starting every game at third for the Tigers last season as a freshman.

"We needed another catcher, and coach [Bradley] asked me to do it," Iacono said. "I started working at it this summer, and I caught my first real games this season."

The move has paid off for Princeton, giving the Tigers more flexibility in the lineup and allowing Bradley to give rest to both catchers. Iacono has started 16 games at catcher this season so Wendkos can enjoy some days off. For the rest of the games, Iacono has started at third.

Position transition

The transition from third to catcher was not the easiest one to make, however, as the positions are quite different and require different skills. Iacono's ability to even make the switch reveals a great deal about his versatility as a player, but it required some adjustments.

"Playing catcher is a lot more physically and emotionally intense," Iacono said. "You are involved in every single play of the game, and you have to be prepared at all times."

The hardest part of the transition for Iacono was dealing with wild pitches.

"Anything in the dirt you really have to do whatever you can to get your body behind it, put your face down and keep the ball in front," he said. "When I was first picking up the position this summer, I had to constantly practice this, over and over again."

With the move from third base to catcher, Iacono has had to take on increased on-field responsibilities. The catcher is a leader on the field and largely determines much of the pace of the game.

"Unlike many other college coaches, our coach does not call pitches himself but lets the catchers do it," Iacono said. "It's kind of like a video game when you're back there, and you basically tell the pitcher what you want him to throw."

While Iacono has worked with a variety of different Tiger pitchers, he has predominantly caught for sophomore Wills Sweney in midweek games and sophomore Eric Walz on many weekends.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Linking a catcher with a specific pitcher is common practice in baseball, as it helps the two develop a close relationship and be more often on the same page about what to throw in different situations. For example, Wendkos exclusively catches for junior ace Erik Stiller, and, in the big leagues, Greg Maddux has had a "personal catcher" throughout his career.

Harder position?

Despite the challenges of learning a new position, Iacono still finds third base to be a more difficult position.

"At third base ,you never know when the ball is going to be hit to you, and it comes at you real hard," he said. "You have to make a lot more reaction plays, but it does give you the opportunity to make more spectacular plays."

Thus, while he relishes the opportunity to experience a new position, Iacono still feels the attachment to third base, which he has always played.

And he thinks that third is a sexier position. When asked the million dollar question, as to what position he would tell a group of attractive ladies that he played, he would probably say third base.

While catchers have to do all the dirty work, it remains the sexy infielder that gets the girls.

But Iacono can clearly do both.