From Pitcher to Catcher: Understanding Every Baseball Position

Infielders, outfielders, pitchers, catchers, and utility players all contribute to the success of a baseball team. It can be a complicated job for a manager to get the right mix of players in the right positions for a game.

Each position requires a different skill set. Some players are versatile and play in a variety of spots. It’s the manager’s job to figure out which player is best suited for a position. Since the season is 182 games and 6 months long, the manager must rest his starters to keep them from wearing out.

Let’s take an in-depth look at all the baseball positions and what their roles are.

Infield Positions

Infielders field ground balls and pop-ups and are responsible for covering the bases. Each position has an area they must cover. First base is usually the only position where a left-hander is preferred. Left-handed throwers must pivot and turn to throw from the other infield positions. At first base, they can throw to any position without pivoting. It’s slightly easier for left-handers to throw to other bases than right-handers and their right hand or glove hand is on the second base side. That gives them a small advantage at fielding fair balls.

First basemen: First basemen are responsible for fielding throws from the other infielders. They line up on the right side of the diamond and must field ground balls that come to their side. Without a player on base, the first Basemen lines up just inside the outfield grass. This allows them to get to deep ground balls. Because they must stretch for throws to beat runners, first baseman are generally tall players, usually measuring at least 6-foot-2.
Second Basemen: Second baseman cover the middle right side of the infield and the space that the first basemen can’t cover. They’re responsible for force-outs at second base on ground balls hit to the left side of the infield. Second baseman don’t require a strong arm but must have good fielding range. Along with the shortstop, second basemen are responsible for holding a runner on second base.
Shortstop: Playing one of the hardest positions to play in baseball, shortstops must have great arms and great range. They’re often the most athletic player on the team and are responsible for the left middle side of the field and any space that the third baseman can’t cover. Because most hitters are right-handed and they tend to “pull” the baseball (hit it to the left side), shortstops field more balls than any other position.

Third Basemen: A third basemen must have good reflexes and a strong arm. Sharply hit balls from right-handed hitters travel quickly to third base and are tricky to field. A long throw from third to first to get a runner out on a ground ball requires a powerful arm. Third basemen are responsible for guarding the left field line for ground balls and plays at third base.

Outfield Positions

Outfielders must catch fly balls hit to them, contain balls that fall in front of them for hits, and advance the ball to the infield with good throws.

Right Fielder: Right fielders must cover the right side of the outfield. Any fly balls or hits to the right side are their responsibility. Because the distance from right field to third base is the farthest in the outfield, right fielders must have a strong arm. They need good speed to chase down fly balls and they must have quick reflexes to promptly get in position. It’s considered the hardest outfield position to master.
Center Fielder: Center fielders are the fastest outfielders because they must cover the most territory. Center field is always the deepest part of a ballpark. A center fielder must cover the middle of the outfield and some territory for left and right field. They must possess a strong arm because they’ll have to make throws to second and third base and home plate. Center fielders are considered the captains of the outfield. That means they will call off the left or right fielder if they’re both in position to catch a fly ball and make the catch.
Left Fielder: More fly balls come to left field than any other outfield position because right-hand hitters “pull” the ball. That means they hit it to left field. Hitting the ball to left field for a right-hand hitter means they’re hitting to the opposite field. Left fielders must get in position quickly to make catches. They cover the left side of the outfield. Left fielders are usually the weakest fielding outfielders but are often the best offensive outfielders.

The Importance of the Pitcher Position

The pitcher is the player who throws the baseball to the catcher. Their job is to get the batter out. There are 3 different types of pitchers—starters, middle relievers, and closers. Pitchers aren’t everyday players. A starter pitches every 4^th or 5^th day. Relievers pitch more often but not in every game. Let’s look at the role for each.

Starters: Starters begin the game. Their job is to pitch as long as possible. A regular baseball game lasts 9 innings. If the game is tied after 9 innings, it’s extended until the tie is broken. A good starter should get through at least 5 innings but as many as 6 or 7 depending on their pitch count. Managers document the number of pitches a pitcher makes. It’s rare for a starter to throw more than 100 pitches. Sometimes, their pitch count is between 80 and 90 pitches. Starters used to have a higher pitch count but because arm injuries increased over the years, the pitch count has decreased. Starters are durable and strong since they throw the most innings. They’ll usually have several different types of pitches. For instance, they could have a fastball, a curve, and a slider. A fastball is their fastest pitch, a curve turns over and loops up, down, or sideways when it gets to the plate, and a slider is a faster version of a curve. The slider doesn’t move as much but it comes to the hitter at a higher speed.
Middle Relievers: Middle relievers typically replace the starters after they have hit their pitch limit or if the starter isn’t effective. The job of a middle reliever is to bridge the gap between the starter and the closer or to help a team that’s behind stay competitive. They must either protect the lead or try to not give up any runs so the offense has a chance to score. They generally pitch 1 to 3 innings, depending on the situation.
Closers: End-of-game situations are for closers. Closers almost always pitch the 9^th inning for the team that’s ahead. Sometimes, if the game is important, they’ll come in for part of the 8^th inning. Closers must deal with the stress of finishing the game. They usually come in for the final inning. It’s the last chance for a team to rally and extend or win the game. That creates stress. Unlike starters and relievers, who must pace themselves, closers pitch with full intensity when they get into the game because it’s a short stint. Closers are resilient, tough, and usually hard throwing. Generally, a good closer is one of the highest-paid players in Major League Baseball.

Baseball At-Bat Positions

Baseball has a batting order. The batting order is the sequence of players who go up to hit against the pitcher. Scoring in baseball originates from the batters, who generate offense by making hits. For each game, the manager makes out a lineup card, which lists the batting order. The key batting positions are listed below:

Leadoff Hitter: The first batter is the leadoff hitter. Their job is to get on base so that the batters behind them can drive them in for a run. A baseball team scores a run when a player crosses home plate. They’re typically contact hitters, which means they don’t strike out often and they’re fast. Their speed helps them steal bases and beat out infield hits.
No. 2 Hitter: Traditionally, the No. 2 hitter is a contact hitter who’s a good bunter. It’s their job to move the leadoff hitter forward on the bases. Because of the emphasis on power, the No. 2 batter can be more of a home run hitter today.
Cleanup Hitter: The 4^th batter in the lineup is the cleanup hitter. They are power hitters whose job is to drive in runs. They have an aggressive mentality and they don’t typically take pitches or try to get walks.
Middle-of-the-Lineup: The middle of the lineup is the Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 batters. These 4 hitters are referred to often as the “heart of the order.” They’re powerful batters who can hit home runs. Generally, the best hitter bats in the No. 3 spot.
Bottom-of-the-Lineup: The Nos. 7, 8, and 9 batters are the bottom of the lineup. They’re usually the weakest hitters on the team. Often, managers have great defensive players who are mediocre hitters. These players hit in the last 3 spots.
Pinch Hitter: A manager uses a pinch hitter late in the game when his team is trailing. A pinch hitter comes off the bench either to try to get on base or to get a hit to help their team score.
Designated Hitter: The designated hitter usually bats for the pitcher. A designated hitter is the only player that isn’t used on defense.

Managers sometimes change their lineup, putting some of their better hitters near the bottom of the order or even using a power hitter at the leadoff spot. It depends on their philosophy and pitching matchups.

The roles of baseball positions, hitters, and pitchers are constantly changing. How teams defend opponents can be different from game to game, because managers have data about where batters tend to hit the ball and how pitchers throw to batters. Having a basic understanding of all the variables that go into a game gives you a broad overview of the strategy used in baseball.