Pedro Severino ready to embrace next challenge of NLDS

Nationals 23-year-old catcher Pedro Severino started playing baseball in the infield until a coach recommended he become a catcher.

That's where Severino realized how good he was at throwing runners out and how he enjoyed the moment so much.

During the Marlins series to end the season, Severino threw a runner out at second base and could be seen on MASN cameras nodding his head several times in agreement when the runner was called out.

"When I was 14 years old I was third baseman," Severino recalled. "My coach in the Dominican (Republic) said 'what do you think if you go behind the plate?' When the first runner steal I just threw him out. I feel happy and got more confident (that) I was in the middle of the action.

"The ball coming to me every time, that's why I am catching. Before, when I was really young, I would let that guy go to first base because I want to see him try to go to second base and throw him out. I love when somebody go because I have that confidence I can throw him out."

Severino, who signed with the Nationals as a free agent in 2010, said he was influenced by (current third base coach and then minor league field coordinator) Bobby Henley, who worked with Severino and his defense as he moved through the Nationals system.

"He teach me everything I know right now," Severino said. "He knows me more than myself. Everything he teaches me I execute."

Last season, Severino started at Double-A Harrisburg and threw out the first seven "would-be" base stealers. Now there is a good chance Severino could be the Nationals starting catcher in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Severino said he is pumped to play in such a big series.

"It's the same game, it's just more fun," Severino said. "More people here, bigger stadium. I just have to do the same thing. Everything counts here, every pitch, every error, everything counts in the playoffs because there's not too many games. I won a championship with Potomac and in Hagerstown we got to the playoffs. I don't feel any pressure because it's baseball, I just have to keep doing the same thing."

Manager Dusty Baker said he saw this type of drive from Severino way back in Viera, Fla. during February workouts. He believes Severino has the confidence to tell Max Scherzer in which direction he would like to go, similar to the way he treats a pitcher more his age.

"Same things that impressed me in spring training," Baker said. "His energy and he's always ready, he's always paying attention. I don't ever have to tell him in the dugout to quit fooling around, to watch, see how they're pitching this guy because you could be in the game at any minute.

"Especially as a catcher, you're one foul tip away or collision away from being in the game and now you have to direct the team and we've stressed to Severino how when you're in the game you are to direct a veteran the same way you would direct (Reynaldo) Lopez."