For this reason, plate umpires do not stand right behind the strike zone.
A professional umpire Tony Jones admits “the slot is what we talk about
mainly for plate umpires, this is the position between the catcher and the
batter where you can see the entire plate and get the best view of the ball
coming in. It is also the safest position to watch, where you are less likely
to be struck by the thrown or batted ball.”
Image 3-17: Ideal position of a plate umpire