The Toughest Job in Sports: How Will Banfield Embraces the Challenge

Playing catcher in professional baseball is not for the faint of heart; it is arguably the most challenging position in all of sports. Not only is it physically taxing to squat for nine innings every day, but it also requires mental toughness, as a catcher must call pitches, direct the defense, and catch a 100-mph fastball. Will Banfield understands the challenges of the job, but he doesn’t shy away. He welcomes them, having voluntarily taken the most difficult path, which now takes him through Louisville.

Banfield grew up in Lawrenceville, GA, playing multiple sports, including baseball, football and swimming. He participated in all three until his junior year of high school, when he focused solely on baseball. He played shortstop until he was 13, when he unexpectedly transitioned to catcher.

“Growing up on one of my travel teams, we didn’t have a catcher one day,” Banfield explained. “Coach asked everyone who wanted to be a catcher, and I thought, ‘I’ll catch.’ I can get an extra bag and extra gear, so I was the only one who put my hand up and ended up starting to catch. I just picked it up that day and obviously ended up loving it from there. I also found out that I was pretty good behind the plate, so it turned out to be a great switch.”

The switch proved to be valuable as he played exceptionally well at the position. Banfield understood that if he wanted to make the big leagues, he needed to put his best product on the field every time he got behind the plate, and that's precisely what he did. After becoming known for his defensive prowess, he committed to play collegiately at Vanderbilt. He never attended, as he was drafted 69th overall by the Miami Marlins in 2018 and signed his first professional contract.

At age 18, fresh out of high school, Banfield began his journey in professional baseball. Between 2018 and 2024, he steadily advanced through the minors, earning promotions to higher competition with each passing year. He made it to Triple-A and played for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in 2024. After that season, he entered free agency. He felt it was time for a change of scenery, due in part to the constant rotation of players and staff in the organization, and he signed with the Reds on November 22, 2024.

Banfield had a rough start to the 2025 season with the Louisville Bats, but as the season shifts to the dog days of summer, he has started to heat up himself. On July 5, he nailed two runners trying to steal second base and earned defensive play of the week for his throws. His recent success is built on a foundation of trust, something that requires constant effort with the revolving door of the Bats’ pitching staff.

Stealing? Not on Banfield’s watch 👀

Will Banfield snags this Defensive Play of the Week with a cannon from behind the plate ☄️

Presented by @Tadthomaslaw pic.twitter.com/txfzc7C3wW

— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) July 7, 2025

“We have guys, especially at this level in Triple-A, that come in and out of the clubhouse so frequently and so fast. We'll get a new pitcher every couple of days, or every week, so that part's never going to end. I think just continuing to learn those guys and making sure that the trust is there at all times and always during the game is critical.”

Like a quarterback and center on the football field, the pitcher and catcher must work in perfect unison to function effectively. For Banfield, the trust necessary for a successful pitcher-catcher tandem is something he values. He wants to take some of the pressure off his pitcher, and knowing them and building meaningful connections is a surefire way to help.

“The first thing that needs to be built is that camaraderie in the clubhouse and away from the field. That way, a guy out on the mound can trust me 100 percent with wherever I’m going for the next pitch, or if it’s a tough situation late in the game, they can trust and rely on me back there.”

Knowing his pitchers is critically important for any catcher. They must manage the pitching staff and possess in-depth knowledge of every pitcher's strengths and weaknesses. In a jam, a pitcher can crack under the pressure, and the responsibility falls to the catcher to keep them confident and motivated.

“For some guys, I'm going to go out to the mound and give them a pat on the back, you know, tell them everything's okay. Be sweet, nice. Because that's the person they are. That's who or what they need in that moment. For other guys, I'm going to go out there and get into them a little bit, just be more stern. That's the best way to get everything out of some of these guys. If it’s late in the game, and a guy comes in from the bullpen and they walk the first guy, or six balls in a row, or anything like that, that's when I'll go out there and try to, and I wouldn't say be mean, but bring that side out a little bit to kind of get the best out of them.”

While playing catcher at a high level can be a thankless job and takes plenty of hard work, it can be the most rewarding position on the field. This typically doesn’t come from hitting a home run but instead throwing a runner out who is trying to steal a base. This feeling is unrivaled for a catcher, and it fires up everyone in the ballpark. Banfield says it is his favorite part of catching.

“I’d say the feeling to me, especially in a big part of the game, is like hitting a home run to tie the game,” Banfield said of throwing out runners. “Obviously, the excitement is there. Sometimes I try to play it off. If I know that a guy's hosed, I’ll start walking off into the dugout before the ball is even into the glove at second base. But like I said, I'd say the feeling is like hitting a homer on my side of the game as a catcher.”

From a random day with his old travel team to now gunning runners out on the bases for the Bats, Banfield continues to push for the big leagues at one of the most difficult positions to fully master. His quest had an unforeseen beginning, but now he has dedicated his life to his craft and hopes to continue to be rock-solid behind the plate.

“This sport is such a roller coaster. Things are going to happen, and they're not always going to be good. But I’m just trying to stack days now, and I’ve been feeling better. I’m trying to put my best foot forward every single day, and all I can do is ensure that I'm prepared to give it my best effort every single day.”