By Matt Browning
For Andover’s Ryan Hatfield, the focus this season goes well beyond personal numbers. The junior catcher is centered on doing whatever it takes to elevate his team, even as he transitions into a new role behind the plate.
“My primary focus for the season is just to try and make the team better,” Hatfield said. “I played outfield last year pretty well as a sophomore. Coming into this year I knew that I would be catching. I want to be a guy that the pitching staff has confidence in, and manages the run game well.”
After earning second-team all-league honors in the outfield last season, Hatfield hit .289 with a .379 on-base percentage and a .708 OPS, collecting 22 hits. Now, he’s embracing the responsibilities that come with catching, including handling pitchers and controlling opposing baserunners.
Hatfield has also made it a priority to improve his offensive production, specifically his power at the plate.
“Something that I want to work on this season is my power and increasing my slugging and OPS,” he said. “This offseason, I have been in the weight room, and I feel like that is showing with my play so far.”
While individual development remains important, Hatfield takes pride in the less visible aspects of the game — the plays that don’t always show up in the box score but contribute to winning baseball.
“As far as my strengths, I’d like to consider myself a team guy,” he said. “I try to focus on ‘team ABs’ — can I move a runner, can I steal a base, can I get a guy’s pitch count up? Those types of things.”
Defensively, he carries the same mindset, aiming to challenge opponents at every opportunity.
“I also want to make it hard on opposing baserunners,” Hatfield said. “I try to keep them honest and make them earn every base.”
With a strong senior class leading the way, Hatfield’s goals extend to team success above all else.
“Individual success is great, but I’m really pulling for this group of seniors to go out on a high note,” he said.
