The Shortstop Position: Captain of the Infield
The most challenging infield position to play in baseball is shortstop. Some argue it’s the hardest position in baseball to master. A shortstop must possess a great arm to make throws that are “deep in the hole,” which is essentially the beginning of the outfield grass. They also need good range to their left and right and they need to be excellent fielders. Because most hitters are right-handed, the shortstop fields more ground balls than any other infield position. Right-handed hitters tend to pull the ball to the left side of the field.
To be a good shortstop, you should be a 5-tool player which means you should be a good runner, be able to hit for average and power, and be a good fielder with a strong arm.
We’ll take a deeper dive into what makes a good shortstop in this article.
Historical Overview of the Shortstop Position
Doc Adams, called the Father of Baseball, created the shortstop position sometime around 1850. Adams played for the Knickerbocker Baseball Club, one of the early teams that helped formalize equipment and rules. Adams was the President from 1846-1848 and 1858-1860. Adams played as a short fielder, which evolved into the shortstop position. The short fielder’s main job was to relay throws from the outfield to the infield. In baseball’s formative years, teams used anywhere from 8 to 11 players instead of 9, which is the current standard. Most infielders stood directly on the base, meaning that 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base had infielders on them. That left gaps on the left and right side of the infield. The shortstop filled the gap and eventually the 2nd basemen started to play between 1st and 2nd. Shortstop was the last position added to the defense. A modern shortstop routinely covers 2nd base when runners attempt to steal or when a player is on 1st base and the ball is a grounder to the left side of the infield
Key Responsibilities
Historically, shortstops were considered defensive specialists. They were often cast as good fielders who didn’t hit well. That role has changed over the years.
Shortstops are expected to be good offensive players who hit for power. They’re athletic and they should be fast enough to consistently steal bases.
Defensively, shortstops are responsible for starting a double play when a ground ball is hit to them with a player on 1st base. Their job is to make a clean throw to the 2nd baseman. Conversely, if the ball is hit to the right side of the infield, the shortstop must cover 2nd base on a double play opportunity.
A shortstop will move closer to 2nd or 3rd base depending on the tendencies of the hitter and how the pitcher is throwing to the batter. For instance, if the pitcher is throwing the ball inside to a right-handed hitter, the shortstop might play closer to 3rd base than 2nd base because they expect the batter to pull the ball. Shortstops must communicate with pitchers to know where they are in the infield for each batter
Fielding throws from the outfield and relaying them to the infield is another responsibility for a shortstop. On a play where a runner is going to home plate and the ball is hit to the deepest part of the outfield, a shortstop could be called on to make a throw to the catcher. This requires a strong arm and quick decision-making ability.
The shortstop is called captain of the infield because they often position the 2nd, 3rd, and 1st basemen, and they are responsible for fielding most of the left side of the infield. A shortstop must be a strong communicator and have a commanding presence since they are the infield leader.
Essential Skills
It takes a specific skill set to play shortstop. It’s a high-profile position that requires mental and physical attributes that not every baseball player possesses. Below are 3 key characteristics of a good shortstop.
- Strong Arm: Because shortstops often field balls that are hit into the first part of the outfield grass, they must have strong arms. Sometimes, when they’re moving toward the outfield to get a ball, they have to throw while falling toward 3rd base.
- Quick Release: Perhaps no other infielder dives for a ground ball more than a shortstop. They must get up quickly after diving for a ground ball and make a good throw to 1st base to get a runner out. This requires moving the ball from your glove to your throwing hand quickly and releasing the ball.
- Range: No infield position player covers more ground than a shortstop. They must be equally comfortable moving to their left and right to field ground balls and hard-hit line drives.
Training Drills for Shortstops
The best way to improve your shortstop skills is to practice during the offseason. Here are 3 simple drills that can help keep you sharp.
- Quick Feet: Starting in a squat position, shuffle 3 steps to your left and then go back to the center and shuffle 3 steps to your right. Shorten the distance to 2 steps each way after you’ve finished a set of 10. This drill helps with your reaction time and range.
- Short Hop Drill: In this drill, a player feeds the baseball to the shortstop from about 10 feet away. With a glove, the shortstop fields the ball on the short hop with their dominant hand. A short hop is when the ball bounces right next to the glove. The shortstop should be in the ready fielding position, which is crouched with a wide base with your arms dangling around your knees. After they field the ball, they throw it back to the feeder.
- Long Hop Drill: For the long hop drill, have the feeder bounce the ball off the ground about 5 feet in front of the shortstop. A long hop can be harder to field because the bounce could be more unpredictable. On a short hop, the fielder smothers the bounce.
Playing shortstop requires practice and discipline. Not everyone can play shortstop, but those who can have to work hard to excel at the position. Even the best shortstops spend hours honing their skills. You have to be willing to get into the dirt to be a good shortstop. The payoff for the hard work is getting to play one of the most visible and important positions in baseball.