Yes, pop times are important but well down on the list. Too many coaches, parents and players obsess over pop times because it somewhat measurable. But for the most part they are pretty subjective. Too many focus on pop times at the expense of basic fundamentals. A catcher may have an alleged world class pop time, but if you can't block, keep strikes as strikes, field the position, etc. you are of no value behind the plate. When I am recruiting and all I hear about a catcher is their pop time, it is time to move on. Just like when a pitcher tells me they have 5 pitches.
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