The three outfielders play deep in the field , well behind the infield cutout. Defensively, the outfielders are primarily responsible for catching deep fly balls and line drives and for fielding ground balls that make it past the infielders. The outfielders are named for their normal positions in the field as seen by an observer looking out to the field from home plate.
The left fielder plays in the area behind the third baseman and shortstop , the center fielder plays well behind second base , and the right fielder plays in the area behind the second baseman and first baseman.
Outfield play is very different from infield play. Outfielders are neither required to make as many quick starts and stops as infielders nor to field as many ground balls, but they must run longer distances and often field more fly balls than infielders. Throws from the outfield are also different from throws from the infield because they're much longer and take a different trajectory.
The outfield positions are generally considered to be easier to play than the infield positions and tend to be dominated by good hitters. Center field is usually considered the hardest outfield position. The centerfielder has a larger area to cover than the other outfielders and the center fielder needs a strong arm to be able to make throws from deep center field to the infield. The right and left fielders have about the same amount of field to cover, but the right fielder needs to make the long throw from right field to third base far more often than the left fielder needs to throw to first base, so teams usually put the fielder with a stronger arm in right field.
Pitcher Catcher. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Right fielders field the fewest balls, but when they do, they have to make the hardest throws to prevent runners from advancing from first to second base or second to third. The throw from right field to third base is particularly far, difficult, and important. The practical result of this is that right fielders tend to be the weakest fielders in the outfield.
Outfielders cover an extraordinary amount of space in an impressive way. According to Business Insider , the average ball park is 2. The largest field is home to the Colorado Rockies and is. The smallest is Fenway Park in Boston which is. That might not seem like a big range, but consider that the outfielders in Boston play their home games in a park 14, square feet smaller than the outfielders in Colorado.
These differences, can play a part in how a team constructs their lineup. The Red Sox may be able to do with better offensive players who are weaker defensively in the outfield while the Rockies first priority has to be defensive range. Hope this has helped you understand what outfielders in baseball and softball are, Ezra Fischer.
Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For more on how to shift left and right—and why—check out my article on advanced infield positioning — it goes deeper into when and why to shade and shift left and right depending on the hitter and situation. Pitchers have a LOT of influence on the outcome of a game. This video below on pitching mechanics is the most detailed tutorial on the internet, so check it out.
The following are some of the skills a pitcher needs:. Because the catcher must control and corral the pitcher, he has to be physically and mentally quick.
Foul tips and long days squatting and blocking in the heat make for very long, draining days. The pop time is very important for a catcher, and I dive into pop times and arm strength in the video below. First baseman are the biggest power hitters on a team, and they are typically very big and relatively slow because of this.
Beyond that, he needs to pick bad throws, be a great, large target and read throws well to get outs on every throw he can from other infielders. Second baseman are typically great defensive players with the worst bat on the team. Dustin Pedroia was an amazing player and a great example. Second baseman have to be very quick and agile defenders and have value on the bases. Andrelton Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops ever, and shows off the athleticism and skill needed to play the position at the highest level.
Nolan Arenado is a great example of a third baseman who is a threat at the plate and yet also an excellent defender. So, what is it? Using the number system above for each position, the play is always referred to by the players who touch the ball:.
Using this system, you can look for a record of how every play went down, and sometimes they are very strange when the ball gets thrown away for an error, or other runners take off for the next base after one throw is made. Rundowns, especially, have crazy scorebook references. Left fielders need to play excellent outfield defense and thus must be fast and have a great glove. What is the DH in baseball? The Designated Hitter is a player who only hits, and this position exists only in the American League.
The DH hits in place of the pitcher, who does not bat in the American League. Pinch Runners enter the game to run the bases in place of another player, but this is not really a position — more just a role. Same goes for pinch hitters, who replace a hitter already in the game to bat for them.
As players and parents, making informed decisions on your path in baseball is key, and being honest with oneself is an important part of this process. If the starting shortstop on Varsity is a great player, then being too rigid and not willing to play another position can mean that sitting on the bench is the only other option.
Be flexible and willing to try other positions, because your favorite one may not always be available. I also see players and parents fall into the trap of playing too many positions at the high school level, where scouts may not be sure where they fit in.
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