Lehigh Valley is fortunate to have two catchers with major-league experience.

Garrett Stubbs was the odd man out when the Phillies set their Opening Day roster and has spent the season with the IronPigs.

His catching colleague is Payton Henry, who spent time in the majors with the Miami Marlins before signing with the Phillies in the offseason.

Henry didn’t set out to be a catcher. Like a lot of kids in Little League, he wanted to play one of the middle infield spots.

But his dad — a former catcher — and another coach on his team had other ideas.

While not exactly a model parenting technique, Henry is ultimately glad his dad took an unconventional approach when he was just 6 years old.

“My dad and one of the other coaches put the catching gear on me and threw balls at me until I cried,” Henry said with a chuckle. “It worked though, and now I love it. There’s nowhere else I would rather play.”

For 22 years now, Henry has been honing his skills behind the plate. He has also had to adjust to the many changes in the game, especially those that affect catchers.

The traditional squat has largely been replaced by dropping to one knee, a position believed to help pitchers get more low strike calls. There are drawbacks, though — among them the perception that catchers take more foul balls off their thighs or groin.

“I think people probably think that it’s a little bit more taxing on our body, but at the end of the day it’s the same,” Henry said. “We’re trying to steal strikes every game, so we’re able to stay lower and stay on the ground a little bit longer when we’re in those positions. That’s the main goal, to stay down as long as we can.”

Henry also has to deal with the pitch clock from the perspective of both a catcher and a hitter. As a catcher, he’s focused on keeping the pitcher moving while still giving him time to deliver. In the minors, he also handles the challenge system.

“I’ve challenged a few as a catcher and a few as a hitter. I’ve gotten a couple wrong, and I’ve got a majority right,” Henry said. “But I still try to save them; I’d rather use them for the pitcher. I’d rather save it for the end of the game when we need them, especially if it’s a tight game and we’re trying to get a strike.”

Ironically, in Saturday’s game with Stubbs behind the plate, the IronPigs lost both of their challenges in the first two innings.

BEATING THE BULLS … Lehigh Valley picked up its first six-game sweep in nearly two years, beating Durham 5-4. The last time the IronPigs swept a six-game series was Aug. 29–Sept. 3, 2023, against Syracuse. They had won the first five games of a series against Norfolk earlier this season before dropping Game 6. The IronPigs moved a half-game ahead of Durham in the IL East standings and into fourth place. In the overall playoff picture, Lehigh Valley sits nine games behind Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with five teams to climb over to reach the IL Division Series against Jacksonville.

A MILESTONE OF MILLIONS … Lehigh Valley is 2,479 fans shy of 10 million all-time attendance. That mark could be reached Sept. 2 against Toledo. The fan who represents No. 10 million will receive IronPigs gifts, including season tickets for 2026, a commemorative jersey, and prizes from game sponsors.

STREAKERS … Johan Rojas picked up two hits in Sunday’s finale to extend his hitting streak to 10 straight games, and 13 of his last 14. During the streak, Rojas is batting .400 (18-for-45) with one home run, six RBIs and nine runs scored. He is hitting .338 since being optioned to Lehigh Valley at the end of July. Donovan Walton had a nine-game streak snapped Sunday, and Justin Crawford’s 13-game hitting streak ended Wednesday — the same night the IronPigs gave away a Crawford bobblehead.