Framing is the catcher's craft of receiving borderline pitches in a way that earns called strikes. Stable target, minimal mitt movement, and a glove angle that's friendly to the umpire's sightline all matter.
Framing Runs (FRM) quantifies the impact. Elite framers add +15 to +20 runs a season, while the worst lose 10+. The gap can swing WAR by two wins.
Modern names include Jose Trevino and others in that tier. Among Japanese players, Kenji Johjima was studied as a 'strike-stealing' archetype during his MLB years.
With ABS (the automated ball-strike system) on the horizon in 2026, framing's long-term value may shrink — but in the challenge format, catcher decision-making becomes a new dimension of evaluation.
→ Related: OAA / Pop Time / Catcher metrics