How to Play Outfield Like a Major Leaguer

Playing outfield well is often one of the most overlooked skills in baseball. When youngsters start playing baseball, few are interested in playing outfield, where they may not get much action. Most young players want to pitch, catch, play shortstop or first base. The outfield is considered a position for the poor players. That perception changes when players reach their early teens. Batters regularly hit the ball to the outfield, and those players get a chance to show off their athletic ability. However, it takes alot more than being a fast runner or a great leaper to become an outfielder. You need to work hard, think clearly and execute the plays consistently.

Instructions

1. Take your stance. Stand with your knees slightly bent, your head up and and your glove and bare hand on your knees. You should be leaning slightly forward in anticipation that a batted ball will be hit to you. Outfielders need to stay alert. You may not get a ball hit to your for three or four innings, but then you may get two or three balls hit to you in a row. If you stop paying attention while playing the outfield, you will get embarrassed in a hurry.

2. Play relatively shallow. The very best outfielders try to cut off as many hits as possible, and there are more bloop singles and doubles that drop in than long balls blasted over their heads. If you play shallow, you have a much better chance of making a play on the bloop hits. You should also know how to go back on a ball with speed and explosiveness in order to get your glove on a well-hit ball.

3. Charge any ground ball that makes it through to the outfield. You are the last line of defense so you cannot allow a ball to get past you. If you have to, get down on one knee to prevent the ball from getting by. Realize that you will have to throw the ball. If you pick up a ground ball and nobody is on base, throw the ball to second base. Do not hold on to the ball. It is the second baseman or shortstop's responsibility to cover the base so just make the throw.

4. Catch any fly ball at shoulder height when trying to throw a runner out on a potentiaql sacrifice fly. If you catch the ball at that level, it is easy to transfer the ball to your throwing hand. A good outfielder should get the throw away quickly. A ball thrown from the outfield will tail away from the target, so the outfielder must compensate when throwing the ball to any base.

5. Study the videotape of your opponents. Learn how they hit the ball and how they run the bases. Ascertain if a batter is a pull or opposite field hitter. Will he take the extra base or is he merely a one base at a time type of player? A good outfielder knows the answer to these questions and is not guessing.

Tips & Warnings

• Work on charging the ground ball base hit, picking the ball up cleanly and transferring it to your throwing hand. This is difficult and takes signficant practice. Play shallow and play aggessively. If you don't think you can catch every ball hit in your area you need to find another position. Outfielders need to be quite confident.

• Be aware of the outfield wall when going back for a flyball. Outfielders need to realize that if they crash into the outfield wall they could get hurt.