How to Play Outfield

Being an outfielder requires a strong foundation of knowledge and technique in baseball to maximize your talents. It’s essential to track and catch fly balls and ground balls while preventing the other team from scoring. Understanding the variations of hits—whether to the left, right, up, or back—is crucial. Many believe the importance of the game lies with pitchers and infielders, especially at a young age, but teaching the proper fundamentals to outfielders is equally important. The three key aspects are throwing, fielding, and communication. Practicing through structured drills can help young outfielders develop these skills and become valuable assets to their team.

Ready position

Being in the ready position is crucial for outfielders. Whenever the ball is about to be pitched and travels through the strike zone, you need to be ready. As an outfielder, don’t just stand still—avoid the trap of not moving your feet for 2, 3, or 4 pitches. Instead, stay light on your legs and be comfortable. It’s important to adopt an athletic position that can mirror a basketball player in defense or a tennis player about to return a serve. Keep your legs slightly wider than shoulder width, allowing for some movement. Ensure your hands are off your knees, so you can anticipate the swing and react quickly. Your first step is critical, so let your eyes guide your body to make a quick and effective response.

 Movement of baseballs off the bat

When playing outfield, it’s crucial to understand the movement of baseballs when they are hit off the bat. At any given time, you may notice that the balls in the air can exhibit various actions, such as hooking or slicing. This affects how corner outfielders respond compared to the centerfielder. For instance, when a ball is hit back towards the middle, the centerfielder must be alert to its movement, which can include backspin or even some sidespin depending on the angle at which the ball was struck. If the hitter is hitting from one side of the plate, the action of a batted ball might hook toward the foul line, while a left-handed hitter may cause the ball to slice in the opposite direction. Rarely will you see a baseball start toward the line and then work its way back into the gap; understanding these patterns helps outfielders position themselves better and anticipate the flight of the ball. Having this knowledge can significantly impact your effectiveness as an outfielder.

Left Fielder

When playing as a left fielder, understanding the action of the baseball is crucial, especially when dealing with a right handed batter. If a right handed hitter sends a fly ball into left field, it will generally move left to right from the outfielders’ perspective, often hooking as it descends. Conversely, when facing a left handed batter, if they hit a fly ball to the same area, expect it to travel left to right as well, but this time it will likely be slicing from the batters perspective.

In my experience, positioning and anticipating the ball’s trajectory make all the difference. Pay close attention to the batter’s stance and swing; it helps in determining the action of the ball early on. Keeping your eye on the ball and adjusting your steps is vital for successful catches. Outfielders must be ready to react quickly and efficiently, as every second counts in these scenarios.

Right Fielder

As a right fielder, understanding how to track fly balls is crucial for making successful plays. When a right handed hitter hits a fly ball to right field, expect the ball to travel right to left from the outfielder’s viewpoint, which may appear slicing from the batter’s perspective. On the other hand, if a left handed batter sends a fly ball in the same direction, the ball will move in the opposite way, going right to left but will appear as hooking from the batter’s perspective. This is where grasping the theory of how different batters affect the path of the baseball comes into play. Your first move is critical; when you see the ball leave the bat, react quickly. Use your knowledge of tracking fly balls to position yourself accurately and make the catch, ensuring that you are always prepared for any kind of baseball trajectory coming your way.

Movement of baseballs on the ground (snaking ground balls)

When fielding ground balls, it’s essential to recognize the movement of the baseballs as they approach. The grass in the outfield can be cut in various designs and lines, creating unique challenges. After a fresh mow, the ball can behave in weird ways, sometimes snaking or zig-zagging left and right depending on how the grass is laying. This can be particularly tough for some fielders, as the ball may appear to roll in unexpected directions, making it crucial to stay alert. As a former outfielder, I’ve learned to take my time and watch the ball carefully, especially as it moves across different shades of green. When fielding, focus on the section of grass the ball is rolling over, and remember to keep your glove ready. As Kevin Russo, a left fielder and second baseman for the New York Yankees, advises, knowing how to back up plays and having a plan for throwing the ball—whether to home plate or 2nd base—is vital. Every base hit or runner attempting to advance means you have to quickly decide where to throw. Always be ready for the unexpected, and trust your instincts to give yourself the best chance to make the play.
In baseball, routines like batting practice play a significant role in game readiness. For insights on batting practice and its impact, read What Does BP Mean in Baseball.

Using a crossover step

When you’re starting to track a fly ball, the crossover step is crucial. This technique builds a foundation for effective movement, allowing you to save valuable steps and reach the ball in a straight line.

Begin from your ready position and make your first move with a good, hard step. If the ball is heading to your left, take your right foot and throw it over your left foot to push off in that direction. Conversely, if the ball is to the right, use your left foot to throw it quickly and violently over your right foot.

This quick movement gets you to top speed quickly, setting the pace for the play. Once the crossover step is made and you are in your stride, keep your eyes on the ball to figure out where the baseball is going to hit the ground.

As you find that spot, aim to beat the ball there. With good practice, you’ll become adept at calculating how hard and high the ball is hit, as well as how much spin it has. This skill is vital; you can rely on your calculation to get to the right spot to catch the baseball effortlessly.

Catch the baseball with your eyes

As an outfielder, you must catch the baseball with your eyes. When the ball is coming down and about to fall, keep your glove out of the way of your sight. It can be scary when your glove crosses in front of your eyes, causing you to lose track of the ball for a split second. This is when people often drop fly balls. While running to your left or right, always follow the ball until it’s secure in your glove to avoid mistakes.

Run on your toes

When running after the ball, outfielders need to stay light on their feet. If your heels hit the ground first, it can cause your eyes to bounce, creating the illusion that the baseball is jumping around. This happens because the impact from your heels disrupts your vision. To minimize this effect, try letting your toes hit the ground first for a softer landing. This small change can make a big difference in your ability to track the ball effectively. Always remember that staying on your toes will enhance your focus and speed while running for the baseball.

EVERY Pitch EXPECTATIONS

As an outfielder, you must know the count, situation, and defensive alignment before each pitch. Good communication with your teammates helps you anticipate plays and expect anything, even a bad throw. Always be ready to back up your fellow players, and keep an eye on the foul lines since the baseball often tails in that direction. Pay attention to the catcher’s set-up for a better jump on the ball, especially when you understand the type of hitter and the game situation. Knowing your assignment is crucial—consider the inning, outs, and all factors affecting your next move.

THROWING

To excel in throwing, outfielders should master their grip on the baseball. Hold it across the seams, with the thumb splitting the index and middle fingers. This ensures a longer arm action compared to infielders, allowing the ball to travel further.

When you throw, think of making a big circle with your arm, starting from your thumb to your thigh and then bringing your fingers up to the sky. Keep your arm aligned and flexed at the front knee for a strong throw. It’s important that your fingers stay on top to create backspin, helping the ball stay straight.

To achieve maximum effort, incorporate a crow hop; this gives you a chance to gain ground towards your target. Remember, a big mistake is jumping, as it creates negative movement. Instead, focus on throwing with precision and confidence to make every play count.

FIELDING

Outfielders must start with a strong pre-pitch routine. Position your shoulders and feet square to the batter while keeping your feet shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent in a good and athletic position. As the pitch enters its flight, remember to take a couple of creep steps towards the hitter to stay active. The first couple steps can decide if the play is going to be made. Keep your arms relaxed at your side, and keep your glove relaxed to make fielding easier.

Catching the Fly Ball

To master catching the fly ball, players should run on the balls of their feet toward the baseball. This helps to keep their heads from bouncing and allows them to control the movement of the ball in their vision. Outfielders must set up three steps behind the ball to gain momentum toward the target. When they catch the baseball, it should be at eye level on the throwing side of their body. The ball is best caught with a tall glove inside the pocket, using two hands to secure the ball.

Fielding a Ground Ball

Being aggressive is key when fielding a ground ball. Outfielders need to get to the ball quickly, aiming to field it cleanly and send it back to the infielder’s hands without delay. With nobody on base, players can get low, going to a knee while keeping the baseball in front of them. It’s important to maintain a tall chest to handle any bad hop the ball might take.

When fielding, there are two ways to approach it: the first is squaring up to the ball like an infielder, and the second is executing a do-or-die play. In a hurry, you should field the baseball on the outside of your glove foot, which helps you transition into a crow hop quickly. Always remember, if your head stays down, your glove will stay down; if your head comes up, so will your glove.

In my experience, the secret lies in keeping your focus and knowing where to throw the ball. Whether it’s to the infield or home plate, always be prepared to get that ball back quickly.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is a key part of defense in the outfield. Every player must know and use a set call when calling for the baseball. Great examples include “Mine Mine Mine,” “I Got It,” and “Ball Ball Ball.” It’s crucial for every player backing up the play to have a specific call too, like “Take It Take It” or “You, You, You.”

When a player loses the ball in the sun or lights, help becomes the universal word to use. Remember, outfielders have priority over calling the baseball compared to infielders. Additionally, the centerfielder has priority over both the leftfielder and right fielder, ensuring smooth teamwork on the field.

In my experience, effective communication transforms the way a team plays, as it allows everyone to anticipate each other’s moves and react quickly.

OUTFIELD DRILLS

To improve your skills in the outfield drills, start with a progression. Begin with the drill using no ball to focus on working your footwork. Once you’re comfortable, add the ball to your glove and practice transferring the ball from your glove to your hand before moving on to throw and fungo. This prepares you for the entire act of catching and throwing the ball effectively.

Try the combo 8 drill with a partner. First, do each of the eight drills without the ball, and then done them with the ball. These basic yet important outfield drills should be worked on at every practice. Use cones to help you view and teach the angles involved.

Focus on movements like the 45˚ drop step over left shoulder fly ball, 45˚ drop step over right shoulder fly ball, and the 180˚ straight back fly ball. Also practice the crossover left fly ball and crossover right fly ball, as well as the 45˚ drop step over left shoulder ground ball, 45˚ drop step over right shoulder ground ball, and finally the do-or-die ground ball. These skills will enhance your overall game awareness and decision-making as an outfielder.

Communication Drill

In this drill, you divide players into two lines. This exercise focuses on enhancing communication among outfielders. You will throw or fungo the ball between the two players while they work on their communication in different scenarios like fly balls, the fence, and ground balls. One outfielder should be talking about where the runner is and where to throw the ball to ensure quick decision-making.

F&Q

How to properly play outfield?

To properly play outfield, outfielders must get ready before the pitch. They should have their shoulders and feet square to the batter, with their feet on the balls of their feet, shoulder width apart. Keeping their knees slightly bent puts them in a good, athletic position. When the pitch is in flight, outfielders need to take a couple of creep steps towards the hitter to prepare for the play.

Is it hard to be an outfielder?

Being an outfielder can be challenging because tracking and catching the ball are essential skills. Outfielders must know their arm strength and how to throw on a line. Most importantly, they need to understand where to throw the ball. Quickly hitting the cutoff man is a valuable skill, just as important as being able to throw the ball all the way to the base.

What makes a good outfielder?

A good outfielder has the best view of the entire field. They have the ability to recognize how a play will develop well before anyone else on the field. It’s important to take the time to study the game. When you watch a college or professional baseball game, you should pay attention to the decisions made by outfielders and how those decisions impact each play.