Questions for Orioles catcher Maverick Handley: ‘I’m still walking on Cloud 9’

Maverick Handley was the Orioles’ sixth-round draft pick in 2019, in the same draft that the Orioles selected Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson in consecutive picks. Handley has been invited to spring training the last three years and been a taxi-squad catcher, but he didn’t play in the majors until April 29^th when Gary Sánchez went on the injured list.

Handley, 27, had his first two major league RBIs — on a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt — in Sunday’s 7-3 win over the Angels. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity:

Question: How has your first stint in the major leagues been?

Maverick Handley: “I think I’m still walking a little bit on Cloud 9. I’m getting adjusted to the schedule, a bunch of meetings. It’s been spectacular, everything I’ve dreamed about.”

Q: What’s the difference in watching these games and actually playing in them?

Handley: “I thought there would be a big difference, but there’s really not. All the games I’ve played in so far, I’ve felt pretty comfortable in there. It feels like we’re just playing baseball. I think part of it is that it helps that I’m looking out onto the field and not having to look back in the stands and seeing tens of thousands of people. It feels like we’re playing just good, old baseball.

“I recognize some more names, which is cool. For the most part, I’m doing the same thing, diagnosing how you’re going to attack people, how you’re going to use your pitcher’s strengths and navigate through a lineup. I think here, there’s definitely less room for error, especially the superstar guys like Bobby Witt Jr. I learned a lesson on how to attack those guys. If you go back to the well multiple times, they’re going to burn you.

“Having those discussions, learning you’re going to need multiple plans of attack to beat people, especially with people that are superstars. Those have been some learning moments, but for the most part, it feels like regular old baseball.”

Q: What’s it like catching pitchers who have more experience than you do?

Handley: “With Dean [Kremer] the other day, it’s nice that I have a nice idea of what he’s wanting to do. But other than that, he’s pretty in control of that outing. We’re on the same page for most of the outing, but he shook me a couple of times for the right pitch.

“That was like, ‘I get it, this guy is in control of his game.’ There’s a little more preparation up here. [Kyle] Gibson is in total control of what he’s trying to do on the mound. He knows what makes him effective, what doesn’t.

“I’ve seen most of these relievers, the high velo guys. I’ve seen them in spring training, so I haven’t been too caught up in the game because I have familiarity with these guys. If these were brand-new bullpen arms, I’m sure I wouldn’t be receiving it quite as much, quite as well. Having that familiarity with those guys has been a huge benefit.”

Q: What’s it like hitting in the major leagues?

Handley: “The lights are definitely a little brighter. This was my third year in Triple-A. I felt this sense of relaxation and comfort. I think that contributed to a good amount of early success down there. Here, it’s funny, even in batting practice. I feel myself slightly getting too big, wanting to hit the ball as a home run versus line drives, which is the type of hitter that I am.

“I could feel myself trying subconsciously just trying too hard. I’ve talked to [assistant hitting coach] Sherman Johnson a lot about it. ‘Hey, let’s make sure you’re regimented about what I’m trying to do at the plate, especially in the cage so that when you are in those situations, you’re less likely to get tense.’

“The lights are great. I feel like I’ve seen the pitches really well. Not too many glaring minor league park problems that can affect your eyes. The stuff is definitely better. You’ll see a couple of guys in Triple-A that have equal stuff, but you know they don’t really throw it in the zone. Here’s it like, ‘they’re up here for a reason.’ I do see a difference in the pitching stuff. I had a couple of at-bats where I’ve got nothing but on the black, so I see that.”

Q: Do guys treat you differently now that you’re on the roster?

Handley: “No, I’ve been on taxi squad three times. This is a brotherhood. Whether I was on the taxi squad or not, they check in on me to see how I’m doing, make sure I’m going to get my work in. I’m going to talk to them, cheer them up, check in. This is a brotherhood.”

Q: How determined are you to stay in the major leagues?

Handley: “I think back to my college years. I had a really big backup plan of being a doctor. I was ready to go to medical school and was going to try baseball out as long as I could. I worked my butt off making adjustments. The first year I got here, I punched out at a 40 percent rate, and it was like, ‘if you want to keep playing, you’ve got to make some big-time adjustments.’ I feel like I’ve made those adjustments, and the results kind of speak for themselves. I’m here. It’s been cool.”

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.