Saltalamacchia still a catcher

ST. PETERSBURG -- In what is becoming a regular routine, Braves catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has wandered down the line each of the last three days and worked through drills with Atlanta's first basemen.

He doesn't stick out doing it, either, which could be one of the better compliments paid to an out-of-position catcher. But Saltalamacchia says not to read anything into the workouts, which he insists are to improve his hand-eye coordination and not preparation for a pending position switch.

"I'm basically just taking ground balls [and] throws from the outfield," Saltalamacchia said. "That's basically all I've been doing, nothing really too deep. I'm just working on hand-eye coordination and trying to make myself better behind the plate."

In his first Major League camp with the Braves, the 20-year-old Saltalamacchia has impressed with what manager Bobby Cox called a "confident" makeup.

"You get very excited about him," Cox said. "[He has] everything: catching, throwing, hitting, switch-hitter. He's got it all. He's a ballplayer."

Cox said the Braves have stated they want Saltalamacchia to progress as a catcher, and Saltalamacchia said that he has not given any thought to playing first base in the Major Leagues on even a part-time basis. But he did purchase a first baseman's glove over the winter and has carried it with him during camp, helping to fuel speculation.

"No, no," Saltalamacchia said. "I want to catch. That's what I want to do. But like I've said before, I'll do whatever it takes. They've told me nothing but that I'm catching. They told me to concentrate on being the best catcher I can be."

Saltalamacchia said he is benefiting from conferring with the Braves' backstops, particularly veteran Todd Pratt, with whom Saltalamacchia worked out for the past three offseasons.

After Wednesday's game in Lakeland, Fla., Saltalamacchia said he spent most of the bus ride back to Lake Buena Vista talking with Pratt, Eddie Perez and Brian McCann about pitch selection, how to handle hurlers and other related topics.

"They've got so much knowledge, it's scary," Saltalamacchia said. "If they teach you one little thing, it makes a huge difference."

The friendship with Pratt has grown over the last three years. Pratt and Saltalamacchia both lived in the West Palm Beach, Fla., area and first met at Athlete's Advantage, a fitness center in Wellington, Fla., the year that Saltalamacchia was drafted.

Then, Pratt was with the Phillies, and as Pratt negotiated his own contract with the Braves during the offseason, Saltalamacchia said he was given a play-by-play account of the developing signing.

"We were working out every day," Saltalamacchia said. "We did a lot of hitting and stuff. We worked on my catching a little bit the first year, but this year, we didn't get to do it as much because of the hurricanes and stuff. But he's been great. We get along great together and have a lot in common."

Like playing first base, Saltalamacchia was asked? Pratt, after all, has logged 13 games at the position during his 13-year career, and though Atlanta is exceptionally high on Saltalamacchia, the Braves also appear to be quite happy with what they are seeing from the 22-year-old McCann.

Saltalamacchia comes into camp having played first before, as a sophomore and junior in high school, but seemingly in no great rush to play there again.

"I'm a catcher," Saltalamacchia said. "The day they tell me to do that, I'll start thinking about it. I'm just over there trying to help myself out."

Knicks knack: Cox said James Jurries (shin) was "really banged up" and would not be on the travel roster for Friday's contest in Winter Haven, Fla.