IL1 Indianapolis Indians

From Catching to Coaching

July 17, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- The decision to hang up the spikes at the end of a baseball player's career is never an easy one, and Wyatt Toregas is all too aware.

Toregas, who spent eight seasons behind the plate in professional baseball, is giving up catching to pursue a career in coaching, taking the first step of that transition with the Indianapolis Indians. After playing with Indianapolis in 2011, Toregas has joined manager Dean Treanor's staff, serving as the Tribe's first base coach and catching instructor.

"I just think my opportunities as a player were getting limited because I was getting older," Toregas said. "I wasn't as good as a player as I thought I could've been."

A career .258 hitter in the minor leagues and .164 hitter in the bigs, Toregas batted .133 in 22 games with the Indians to 2011 and was hitless in three major league games with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The writing was on the wall for Toregas, who said he turned down opportunities to play elsewhere in order to stay in the Pirates organization.

"I got an opportunity and was asked to come join the organization as a coach and it just seemed like the right decision at the time and it's something I want to do," Toregas said. "I wanted to coach and stay in the game, so when that opportunity came up I felt like it was a really good time to do it."

Toregas spends his days working with the team's catchers, drilling them on their footwork, receiving pitches, throwing to bases and calling the game. There's always something different to teach, and that's what Toregas enjoys the most.

"I think the thing about this game is that you never have the same day," Toregas said. "Every day you have goals and you're trying to do certain things, but then you have a game that night that brings up a whole new set of goals you're trying to reach. As soon as you think you're on top of it, something else comes up and you've got to address that. That's just the nature of the game."

In addition to his work with the catchers, Toregas takes turns with the other coaches throwing batting practice to the entire team. Once gametime rolls around, he takes up his position in the first base coaching box.

That's where Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor believes that Toregas proves his worth.

"He helps me out with the runners. It's unbelievable how players just seem to not be able to get signs," Treanor said, exasperated. "I mean, it's huge. If we don't have [Toregas] over there, then we're in situations where one guy gets the sign and the other guy doesn't, and it just doesn't work. He's always talking to the baserunners about the situations, always talking about the pitchers and what to look for in a steal attempt, all kinds of things. It's just really good to have him over there; it's helped us tremendously."

Toregas understands the importance of his role at first base, not only helping Treanor but also being another set of eyes watching the hitters.

"I work with Dean to make sure we've got the baserunners on the same page. It's kind of hard to coach from [the third base coaching box], so he relays what he wants me to tell them and it helps everything flow a little bit easier," Toregas said. "I also work with Jeff Branson, the hitting coach. I coach first base, so I get a good look at the hitter from a different angle than he does. I give to him some of my input and he uses it however he needs to."

Treanor said that one of the reasons Toregas has been so valuable to the Indians is that he understands the different requirements between playing to coaching and has been able to make the transition quickly.

"Everybody - players here in the dugout, fans, everybody - they tend to follow the flight of the ball, and on this side of it we've got to watch our infielders to make sure they're ready when the pitch gets into the hitting zone, he keeps an eye on the catchers and how they're receiving and how they're setting up and so on," Treanor said. "[Toregas] really helps me during the game in the regard. You'll see us sitting together here on the bench and communicating the entire game. That is not easy to do, and he's doing a good job of it."

If there's anyone less surprised in his early success than Treanor, it may be another of Toregas' former managers. Toregas spent seven years in the Cleveland Indians organization, much of it under the tutelage of current Columbus Clippers manager Mike Sarbaugh.

"He was on the first team I ever managed, in the New York-Penn League," Sarbaugh said while in Indianapolis for a five-game series with the Indians. "Wyatt always had a very good knowledge of how to call a game behind the plate and how to work with a pitching staff. He just had a good feel for the game."

Sarbaugh said if he could offer some advice to Toregas, he would say to be himself and try to keep learning every day.

"He has a lot to offer in the game," Sarbaugh said. "He'll do a good job, especially from the offensive part of it and also what he brings working with the catchers. I think that catchers have a lot of knowledge of the game."

Treanor echoed Sarbaugh's sentiments.

"He's got a lot of passion for this game, and sometimes that's an overused word, but this guy loves the game," Treanor said. "He [loved] to play and he did not get a whole lot of at bats last year. To his credit - and it speaks to his character - he was always a positive influence in the clubhouse, positive influence in the dugout and when he did get a chance to play, he played hard all the time."

Toregas certainly feels comfortable in his new role, but there are parts that seem surreal, including serving as an instructor for players that last year were teammates and this year are subordinates. That relationship, he said,is unusual, but it doesn't get in the way of ultimate goals.

"It's a challenge because there is that relationship change, but I think the guys here are mature enough that they understand the situation," Toregas said. "I think another thing, too, is that I'm never in here trying to tell everyone what to do. We all have to work together. We're all on the same team here, we're all in the same boat, and our collective goal is to just get better every day. Just because my title changed, I don't think it changed the fact that we're trying to learn every day and get better."

Indians catcher Eric Fryer, who caught alongside Toregas in 2011, agrees with the now-coach's assessment of the situation and added that he sees Toregas as a boon to the atmosphere of the clubhouse.

"He's not that far removed from playing, so he understands what we go through on a daily basis and kind of how coaches can get on our nerves a little bit, so it's definitely good," Fryer said. "He knows the players perspective, you know? Some of the decisions aren't always from the managers and coaches, they're from the [Pirates] higher-ups, so he can kind of relay that message to the guys whereas other times in the past we just couldn't do that."

The experience seems to be paying off mutually for Toregas and the Indians. As of July 16, Indianapolis had the best record in the International League at 60-36, 6.0 games ahead of the second-place Charlotte Knights. Toregas is hoping that success will lead him to a full-time coaching opportunity within the Pittsburgh organization.

"I would love to stay with the Pirates, for sure," Toregas said. "I think when I came [to Indianapolis] last year as a player I really like the organization. I like the people in the organization, I like the direction the organization is headed in and I like how they're trying to [reach their goals]. I want to stay a part of that because I think to be a part of something like that would be a really good thing. I want to be part of something good - something moving in the right direction - and contribute to that."

While the future remains unwritten and unseen, Toregas can rest assured he has at least one ally who would also like to see him stay in the organization.

"It's difficult as a player to come to that point in your career when you realize it's time to make that transition, it's time to get into coaching, but he's put his arms around this and he's done a great job this year and I think he's going to have a great career doing this," Treanor said of Toregas' future. "He just brings a lot to the table and he has a very bright future ahead of him."

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