TEMPE, Ariz. >> For the past few years, the Angels’ Max Stassi had rejected the evolution of his position.

Stassi was one of the only catchers in the majors who always used the traditional stance, with two feet on the ground instead of one foot and one knee.

“Ego,” Stassi said. “Pride. I was one of the better receivers in baseball for a few years, so why would I need to (change)?”

He has finally given in.

This spring, Stassi has reworked just about everything about the way he’s played the position, getting on board with the one-knee stance.

After he played three innings Sunday with his new technique, he said was eager to see how the change makes him better at framing and blocking, and even better at hitting if his legs are fresher.

“I think it’s really going to help this season,” Stassi said. “We’ll see. The numbers will tell. I’m excited about it. In this game, you’ve got to adapt. Any way I can make myself better, I’m all for it. We’ll see what the numbers are, but I’m confident it will be better.”

For most of baseball history, catchers typically squatted with both feet on the ground. Being on their feet allowed for the most mobility, in theory. There were occasional outliers, like Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Tony Peña back in the 1980s. He would get down on a knee, but even then it was only with the bases empty.

Over the past five or six years, it became standard for catchers to get on one knee with the bases empty. It’s only been within the past year or two that more and more catchers have gone to the one-knee stance even with runners on base.

Angels catching coach Drew Butera, who caught in the majors from 2010 to 2021, lived through the changing philosophy.

“I think the mindset when it first started was, this is great for receiving, but when somebody’s on base, go back to the traditional stance so the ball doesn’t get by you or you’re in a better stance to throw,” Butera said. “The more guys tried different things and the more guys experimented with it, they understood they could still block with it, and they could still throw with it.”

Stassi admitted that the optics are bad when a catcher is down on one knee and he is unable to move laterally to get his chest protector on a wide pitch, but he said many of those pitches would have gotten past the catcher anyway.

“If you can still shift about four inches, those are the balls you can block,” Stassi said. “Anything outside of that is a small percentage of blocks anyway. You do your best to pick those, but you’re already lower and in a better position, so your reach is actually better from there.”

Stassi also said it’s easier to frame pitches from one knee because his head doesn’t move as much. He’s also lower, providing the umpire a better view.

Stassi said improving his framing was one of the motivations for making the change. In 2019, Stassi ranked ninth among 64 qualified catchers in framing, according to StatCast. Last season, he ranked 32nd of 60.

Although it would seem that throwing might be tougher from a knee, Stassi said it’s actually a pretty natural movement to pop up from a knee to throw. He said the first time he tried it, it was so quick that he had to ask Butera, “Am I doing this right?”

Of course, the primary benefit for the catchers of using the one-knee technique is that it’s not as stressful on the legs.

Logan O’Hoppe said he first started doing it last season “because my legs needed a blow.” It was the first time O’Hoppe had played a full pro season going into October.

O’Hoppe, 23, said he’s still planning to just use the one-knee stance with the bases empty and before there are two strikes. Stassi and Chad Wallach are each 31 and Matt Thaiss is 27; they all plan to use the one-knee stance most of the time.

“I think it’s changing the game in a way that’s helping catchers,” Wallach said. “I’m all for that. Anytime we can do something that helps catchers and makes it a little easier on your body, it’s a good thing.”

The physical toll of catching is one of the reasons that catchers traditionally are below average hitters. Stassi had actually been one of baseball’s better offensive catchers in 2020 and 2021, but his numbers cratered in 2022. He is looking for a rebound in 2023, and he is optimistic less stress on his knees will help.

“Fresher legs when you hit,” Stassi said. “Late in the season, every catcher in baseball is feeling the same way. The legs are a little heavier. Any way you can keep those fresh for late in the season, I’m all for it.”

Notes

Shohei Ohtani is expected to start for Team Japan in its first game in the World Baseball Classic, which will be against China at 2 a.m. PT Thursday. Nevin said he’s still planning to watch, even though it starts at 3 a.m. in Arizona. “I’ll just go to bed a little earlier that night,” Nevin said, adding that he’s eager to watch all of the Angels who will be playing their WBC games in Asia. David Fletcher (Italy) and Jaime Barría (Panama) are playing in the bracket in Taiwan.

• Right-hander Chris Rodriguez is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today, and then the Angels will re-evaluate him to determine his next step. Rodriguez, who is working his way back from 2021 shoulder surgery, still needs to face hitters in live batting practice before he can get into a Cactus League game. Nevin said the Angels are still trying to build him up to be a starter, even though he’s clearly behind the other starters at this point. “This injury is not a minor injury,” Nevin said. “The buildup process takes a little longer than you’d think, but the important part is he feels great. Where his velocities are in his ‘pens, where the throwing progression has gone, it’s all been good. Good signs. There’s certain days he feels better than others.”

• Shortstop Zach Neto is scheduled to make his second start of the spring Friday in an exhibition against the Dodgers. Neto, the Angels’ first-round pick last summer, picked up his first hit Monday. He is 1 for 11.