ELITE CATCHER DEVELOPMENT
IN TAMPA BAY
AT THE BACKSTOP BUNKER
PINELLAS PARK, FL
Catcher training for Backstops of all ages and levels - youth, middle school, high school, and beyond. Specialized programs, led by our founder, Turner Pruitt, designed to enhance every aspect of your game behind the plate.
THE BACKSTOP BUNKER
WHERE CATCHERS TRAIN
The Backstop Bunker is a specialized, catcher-specific training facility designed with one purpose in mind: developing high-level catchers. The centerpiece is a full-length batting cage finished in all-black turf with double batter's box mats laid flush with the turf, built for the full range of catching work — receiving, blocking, and throwing — while also serving as a quality space for batting practice. Equipped with a Junior Hack pitching machine, MLB/MiLB baseballs, and ample training aids, this space has everything a catcher needs to get elite-level work in. Adjacent to the cage sits a dedicated weight room with turf flex space and a plyo wall, designed to build the athleticism and physicality the position demands. The aesthetic parallels our culture — bold but welcoming, tough but clean, functional but stylish, right down to the lounge where athletes can decompress between sessions, and parents can watch their kid comfortably. The Backstop Bunker isn't a general training facility that happens to serve catchers. It was designed for them, from the ground up, and it shows.
10420 66th St N
Unit #5
Pinellas Park, FL 33782
FEATURED PROGRAM
FEATURED PROGRAM
BACKSTOP SUMMER ACADEMY
FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL CATCHERS (AGE 13-14)
The summer is an opportunity for athletes to make significant strides in their development — and this program is built to make the most of it. In small groups of four, middle school catchers spend four weeks training directly with Turner across every aspect of the position and the player: catching skill work, arm development, hitting, strength and conditioning through a tailor-made NGT program, baseball IQ, and mental training. This isn't a camp. It's an intensive, culture-driven development experience designed to prepare each catcher for the demands of high school baseball — and to do it alongside other driven, like-minded guys who push each other to be better every single day. One summer. Real development. The kind that can change the course of a career
📅 Block 1: June 1 – June 25 | Tues & Thurs | 9am–1pm
📅 Block 2: June 30 – July 23 | Tues & Thurs | 9am–1pm
👥 Only 4 spots per block
💰 Early Bird pricing available through May 10
NEW TO BACKSTOP BANDITS?
START HERE.
Every catcher's journey at Backstop Bandits starts with the Intro 1:1 Backstop Evaluation. It's a private, one-hour session where Turner assesses your catching in every aspect — receiving, blocking, and throwing. You'll get honest, high-level feedback on where you are, where you need to go, and exactly what it's going to take to get there. You leave with a clear picture of your game and a personalized roadmap for your development. This is where it begins.
$100 | 1 hour | Private 1:1 session with Turner
TRAINING OPTIONS
FOR CURRENT MEMBERS
CATCHING
SKILLS LAB
Catcher development requires quality reps — and that's exactly what these sessions deliver. With groups capped at 4 athletes, every catcher gets personalized attention and plenty of work across all three pillars of the position: receiving, blocking, and throwing.
2 credits | $50 drop-in
BB GUN
CATCHER THROWING PROGRAM
Catcher-specific arm development — throwing drills, arm care, and movement training designed to build velocity, improve pop time, and keep the arm moving efficiently.
2 credits | $50 drop-in
PRIVATE
SESSIONS
One-on-one instruction with Turner. Skills lessons, evaluations, and reassessments available for existing clients looking to supplement their group training with individualized work.
4 credits | $100
BECOME A MEMBER
MAKE THE BUNKER YOUR TRAINING HOME
MEMBERSHIPS
The Backstop Bunker was designed to be your development home — and our membership structure makes that possible. All memberships are credit-based, giving you the flexibility to train the way your schedule and your goals demand. Use your credits on Catching Skills Lab sessions, BB Gun Throwing Program sessions, one-on-one private instruction, or cage rentals — in whatever combination moves you forward. The more you're in the Bunker, the better you get. It's that simple. Choose the tier that matches your commitment level, and let's get to work.
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$169 / month
8 credits
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$319 / month
16 credits
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$449 / month
24 credits
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$579 / month
32 credits
Interested in our Founding Memberships?
Fill out the form below:
MEET THE COACH
TURNER PRUITT
Turner Pruitt caught at the collegiate level and built Backstop Bandits around a simple mission: helping as many catchers as he can become the best versions of themselves behind the plate. His coaching perspective was shaped by his own journey — coming up during a period of rapid evolution in catching technique, with limited resources and no clear roadmap. He figured it out through trial and error alongside a small group of college catchers in the same boat. That group became the original Backstop Bandits.
Since transitioning into coaching full-time in 2024, Turner has worked with hundreds of catchers across the country — from 8-year-olds just learning the position to high schoolers chasing recruitment to some of the top talent in college baseball and the professional ranks. He knows firsthand what it takes to overcome the challenges of the position — and leans on that experience to help others get there faster. He knows that the best catchers are artists behind the plate — technically sharp and instinctively sound, yet each with their own unique styles. That's the standard he coaches to.
TESTIMONIALS
“I’ve been working with Backstop Bandits and Turner for a little bit now and I have seen my game grow a ton. Learning new techniques and getting better all around. Having my highschool umpires tell me I look so much better than last season. This has been huge for my game and skill. Also gaining so much knowledge.”
“We…can’t say enough good things about the training and experience we’ve had. Turner has been great working with our son and we have definitely seen an improvement in his skill since he started working with Turner. We look forward to seeing what skills and drills Turner has planned for each training and our son is always excited for his sessions and can’t stop talking about what he has learned and how great he thinks Turner is. Turner is not only providing great training to these players but he is also giving many of them an excellent role model to look up to. We won’t hesitate to recommend Turner and any Backstop Bandits training or camp to anyone we know…”
“BB has helped my son not only learn the mechanics of catching, but also the mental approach and physical preparation necessary to play at a higher level. His blocking and receiving skills are noticeably better!”
“My sons have been well coached and mentored by the coaching staff of the Bandits. I would recommend a camp by the Bandits to any friends or family that have a young catcher. Turner and his coaches have been instrumental [in] providing confidence with technique and in my sons’ abilities as catchers.”