Outfield Technique

Playing the outfield positions seems to be a relatively simple thing to do, you run under the ball and catch it, right?  As it turns out, every position in baseball has specific techniques that, if used correctly will improve your value as a player and outfield is no exception.

Techniques for playing the various outfield positions are similar but the roles and responsibilities are different.  We will first look at proper outfield technique for all players, then drill down to roles and responsibilities of the specific positions.

IMPORTANT: Many of the techniques described below assume there are runners on base who may tag up if the ball is caught in the air or the ball hits the ground before reaching the outfielder.  If it is the third out or there are no runners on bases, the outfielder need not begin momentum and crow hop as they are catching or fielding the ball, but it is a good idea for them to do this anyway on every single play so that they build muscle memory and do it the same way every time.

Positioning Properly to Catch a Fly Ball in the Outfield

I have rarely seen this technique used outside of professional or college baseball, but should be taught to players at the youngest ages when attempting to catch a fly ball in the outfield.  The outfielder should position themselves about 4-6 feet behind where they think the ball will land and adjust to the ball as it approaches. This allows the player to already have momentum moving toward the infield before he makes the catch.  Otherwise, if a player is standing flatfooted to make the catch, they must start from a standing position and then start their momentum toward the infield as is described below wasting precious time.

The other thing this prevents is the situation where a player misjudges how deep a ball will go and it flies two feet over his head.  It is much easier to run forward than it is to run backward, by positioning himself deeper than he thinks the ball will fall, he can prevent a misjudgment from getting over his head for a triple or home run when it should be an out.

As the ball gets closer, especially on a windy day, it is much easier to gauge where it will land and the closer it gets the more the player adjusts to a point just a couple of feet behind where the ball will land so that when it approaches the player they can start running toward the ball, catch it on the run, and then use that momentum to make a strong and accurate throw.

Notice the player in the picture who is already in his throwing motion before the ball arrives.

If the ball is hit a good distance away from the player but is still reachable on the fly, the player should not run just fast enough to reach the ball as it gets to glove height.  When this happens the momentum of the player is to the side and not toward the cut-off man or target base player.  This means the outfielder must stop his momentum one way and then start him momentum another way to begin the crow hop.

In cases where it is possible, the outfielder should run hard to a place a few feet behind where the ball will land and then adjust forward on the ball to begin his momentum as he is making the catch and as he is going into the crow hop.  If he has to catch the ball on a full run then this technique will not be possible.

The Crow Hop

After fielding a ball in the outfield with base runners advancing, the outfield player needs to get as much power behind the throw as possible.  There is not enough time to take too many steps after fielding the ball, and the ideal mechanics are the hop, step and throw.

For a right handed thrower, this means the first move is a short hop with the right foot extended, land, make a step with the left foot directly toward the target, pushing off hard with the right foot and making the throw as the left foot hits the ground.

This gives the optimum momentum for making a hard throw to the cut-off man or target base player if they outfield has the arm and the throw is within his range.

Hit the Cut-Off Man (or not)

One thing that I routinely see, especially at the younger ages is the outfielder trying to make a highlight reel play and throw the ball all the way home for the out when the runner is rounding third.  The result is either a bad throw and the runner scores and the hitter ends up at 2nd or 3rd, or the ball is short allowing the runners additional time to advance.

An outfielder should well understand what their range is and should throw "long toss" before the game as a part of the warm-up routine.  Every single practice and every single game when the player is warming up they should start short until the arm feels comfortable and then slowly start taking one step back after every throw until he reaches a spot where he can no longer reach his partner in the air.  This is the max distance he can throw the ball before he needs to hit the cut-off man.

The cut-off man should position himself such that the ball from the outfielder can reach him in the air and he then finds the next cut-off man or the intended target.

When in doubt, the outfielder should always hit the cut-off man and not try to "over-throw" it and throw it wild or have the ball land between the cut-off man and the eventual target.

Another thing I see regularly at all ages is the outfielder who fields the ball twenty feet from the target base and the cut-off man has positioned himself ten feet from the target base and the outfield throws it to the cut-off man.  At that distance, that's almost an underhanded toss to the base, much less the cut-off.  Adding a cut-off unnecessarily just extends the time it takes to get the ball to the target and can result in the runner being safe vs out on a routine play.  If the outfielder has the arm to reach the eventual target, they should.

Run Where the Ball is Going

The tendency of most young players when a ball is not hit directly to them is to run 90 degrees from their current position, then turn and chase the ball down.  The problem with this is, every step the defensive player takes as the ball is rolling away from him is another step the base runner has to the next base and once the outfielder reaches the ball he must turn 180 degrees before he can begin his crow hop.  All of this takes up precious time as the runner is rounding the bases.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line and outfielders should take an angle to a few feet behind where the ball is going.  If the ball is a good distance from the defensive player, he should gauge where he things the ball will end up and take the angle to a few feet behind that position.  It is always better to run up to field the ball than to have to run back for a ball.  By running a few feet behind where the ball will end up, the outfield gives himself the advantage of starting his momentum as he is picking up the ball and avoiding having to start his momentum after the ball is fielded.

In addition, if he is running forward as he is fielding the ball, he can easily see the position of the cut-off man or target base player without having to try to pick up the target after he picks up the ball and starts his crow hop.  Overall, this technique is much cleaner and makes for an easier and faster play on the runner.

Ranging Back for a Ball

A mid-range ball

Path for a right-handed left fielder

An outfielder never back-peddles and should never have to if the ball is played correctly.  If the ball is hit over the player's head but not too far over his head, he should turn his hips away from the ball and run sideways keeping his eyes on the ball all the time.  If he has time, he should run to a position behind where the ball will land (as previously described) and make the play on the ball with forward momentum.  Otherwise, he can catch the ball on the run while watching the ball the entire time.

If the ball is hit directly over the outfielder's head, he can make the decision which direction to turn and which shoulder to look over.  It is a more natural motion to catch the ball to the forehand than the backhand (the forehand meaning he doesn't have to twist the hand to get the glove opened properly) as is illustrated in the picture and the diagram above. 

The player should avoid trying to run straight out and watch the ball flying directly over his head.  He should run far enough wide of the line of the ball that it is easy to watch on the ball while ranging back.  Once he finds the spot where he thinks the ball should land, he plays it as described above, positioning himself a few feet behind the ball and playing it in front of him if at all possible.

A Deep Ball

If the ball is hit deeply into the field further than can be caught like a mid-range ball, then the player must get to the ball as quickly as possible.

In this case, when the ball comes off the bat and the outfielder realizes it will be over his head, he should turn his back to the ball and run as fast as he can to a spot a few feet behind where he initially thought the ball should land when it came off the bat.

He should then turn and attempt to re-acquire the ball in the air and then adjust from there.  If he is unable to pick-up the ball in flight, all other infielders and outfielders should be pointing at the ball as it flies.  The outfielder should then be able to follow all of the player's fingers and pick up the ball again.

If the player is not able to reach the ball before it lands, he still will be closer to the final resting place of the ball using this technique than trying to range back as with the mid-range ball, running sideways, knowing the whole time he will not be able to reach it.

In what is dubbed the greatest catch in baseball history, Willie Mays is shown in the picture with his back to the ball chasing down a hit that was well over his head when it came off the bat.

Outfield Responsibilities

The Center Fielder

The center fielder is normally the fastest outfielder and has the best glove.  He is the captain of the outfield and gets anything he can get to - if he calls the ball he gets it.  If the ball is hit to right center and both the right fielder and the center fielder call for it at the same time, the center fielder makes the play on the ball.  The right fielder, when he hears the center fielder call for it (even if the right fielder calls for it first) peels off and backs up on the play in case the ball gets away from the center fielder.  This is to prevent collisions in the outfield and give your best outfielder the best opportunity to make the play.

As with all positions, if the center fielder is not directly involved in the play, he is backing someone up.  On a ball hit to left or right field, the center fielder is running behind where the play is being made on the ball to backup the left or right fielder in the event the ball gets by them.  I have seen an outfielder twist an ankle in a hole in the outfield and not be able to make a play on a ball that looked like a routine play.  Regardless of how the ball is hit or where the left or right fielder is playing, the center fielder "follows the ball" just in case he is needed.

On a ball hit to the infield, the center fielder backs up throws to second base and also backs up throws down to second on steal attempts.  When the ball is put into play and is hit to the infield, the center fielder should automatically be breaking toward the ball (if it is hit to the middle infield) or to second base (to backup the middle infielder in the event of an overthrow).

If the ball is coming from the left side of the infield, the center fielder runs to the right field side of second base and vice versa.  On a throw down from the catcher, he runs directly behind second base on a line from catcher through the pitcher's rubber and through second base.

It is important to not play too close to the infielder, the outfielder backing up the infield needs to be far enough away that he can react to a ball off the infielder's glove and still make a play on it, keeping it from getting deep into the outfield and letting base runners advance and possibly score.

The Left Fielder

In addition to playing the left field position, the left fielder is also backing up throws to third base up the foul line toward the outfield fence.

On close plays to 3rd base it is the responsibility of the pitcher to backup 3rd base down the baseline toward home (the catcher must stay home in case the runner gets around 3rd and heads home) and the left fielder backs up plays up the baseline toward the foul pole.

The left fielder also backs up 3rd base on throws from the catcher on pick-off attempts or stolen bases.  As soon as he sees that play develop he should brake to a position in the grass behind the 3rd baseman to make a play on any ball that gets by the 3rd baseman.  Any ball that gets into the outfield after a play at 3rd will likely score a run and the left fielder needs to be properly positioned to prevent that.

The Right Fielder

In addition to playing right field, the right fielder backs up throws to 1st base.  This includes routine infield hits where the play is at first or on pick-off attempts from the pitcher or the catcher.

With nobody on base, the play is at first and the catcher's responsibility is to backup the throw to 1st on the base line between home and 1st and it is the right fielder's responsibility to backup the throw down the base line toward the right field foul pole.

Conclusion

Like most sports, baseball is a game of inches.  Every inch you can take away from a runner the more likely you are to get an out.  Moving your body to make the most efficient use of time can mean the difference in safe or out on a close play.

Using the proper technique greatly enhances the outfielder's ability to get positioned correctly to make the best play on the ball and make the most effective throw after catching or fielding the ball.