How to Play the Outfield: Reads, Routes and Throws
A skills guide to outfield play for young players and coaches: reading the ball off the bat, drop steps and routes, catching, calling for the ball, handling grounders, throwing to the right base and practicing safely.
The outfielder's job looks simple from the stands: wait, run, catch. The players who do it well know that most of the work happens in the half second after the ball leaves the bat. A good outfielder has already decided which way to move before the ball has gone twenty feet, and has often taken the first step before the fans have decided whether it is a fly ball or a line drive. That decision is a read, and it is the skill that separates a player who looks fast from one who looks like he is gliding.
This guide covers the parts of outfield play that can be taught and practiced: the ready position, the first step, the route to the ball, the catch, the call, the grounder and the throw. It is written for young players and the parents and coaches who help them, and it is general guidance rather than a drill manual. The details of technique vary between coaches, and any one coach's way of teaching is fine if it keeps the player safe and gets the ball back to the infield. Where an exercise carries a risk of injury, such as running at a fence, the advice is to ask a qualified coach to supervise and to follow the safety guidance published by your league or the governing body.
Three positions, three jobs
The outfield has three spots, and they ask for different things.
Center field is the captain of the outfield. The center fielder covers the most ground, has the best view of the whole field and takes priority on any ball he can reach. He usually has the fastest feet and the best instincts. A center fielder has to be comfortable moving in every direction, forward, back and to both sides.
Right field asks for the strongest arm in most lineups. A throw from right field to third base is the longest throw in the outfield, and a runner on first who sees a single to right will often try to reach third. Balls hit to either corner tend to curve toward the foul lines, so a right fielder also needs a good angle to catch a ball that is sliding away from him.
Left field has the same problem in the other direction: balls pulled by right-handed hitters often hook toward the line as they fall. Left field often asks for a little less arm, since the throw to third is short, but it asks for the same reading skills. In youth baseball the left fielder is often the least experienced player, which is a mistake: balls hit to left are just as likely to decide a game.
In practice, coaches move players around to find where each fits. A young player should try all three, since learning to read the ball from each angle makes him better at any one of them.
The ready position and the first step
The best outfielders start every pitch in the same stance: feet a little wider than the shoulders, weight on the balls of the feet, knees slightly bent, glove out front and eyes on the hitter. Many players take a small step forward as the pitcher delivers, so that their weight is moving as the pitch arrives, a "pre-step" that gets the first movement started a little sooner. The aim is to be balanced, because a player who has to straighten up before he can move loses time.
The first step is the one that matters most. A fly ball that goes over the fielder's head is the hardest one to catch, because he must turn his body and run backward, and the mistake that causes most misses is a first step in the wrong direction. A common teaching rule is that the first step should be back. If a ball is hit right at you and you cannot tell whether it is going to carry, take a step back first. It is much easier to run in on a ball that falls short than to run back on one that sails over your head.
Reading the ball off the bat
The read begins with the ear and the eye. A ball hit solidly makes a different sound than one hit off the end of the bat, and a ball hit on a line leaves the bat differently than one hit in a high arc. A young player cannot learn to read by being told how it looks; he learns by watching a lot of balls hit and noticing what happened to each one in the first second. Fungo drills, in which a coach hits fly balls to a line of players, are the usual way.
Some cues that experienced outfielders use:
- The ball that rises early and keeps rising is likely to carry. Run back.
- The ball that is hit sharply and flattens is a line drive that may sink. Stay balanced, take a step in or back and wait to see which way it breaks.
- The ball that goes up quickly and seems to stop is a short fly that will fall in front of you. Come in.
- Wind and sun change everything, and a fielder should check the flag or the direction of the grass in warm-ups.
The main point is that a fielder should not stand watching. He should get moving in the direction of the ball and keep it in sight while he does. The second look can come when he is near the place where the ball will land.
Routes: drop steps, crossovers and the curved path
A route is the path from where you stand to where the ball comes down. Two techniques cover most balls.
The drop step. For a ball hit over your head, turn the hips toward the side the ball is on by stepping back with the foot on that side. Then run, using crossover steps at first, and look over your shoulder to find the ball. Do not backpedal, because a fielder running backward cannot reach the speed of one running forward, and he is more likely to trip. After the drop step, run, look back over your shoulder to find the ball, and on a deep ball run to the place where you think it will land before picking it up again. Many fielders catch the ball over the shoulder on the glove side, so that they can see it and reach for it without twisting.
The curved route. For a ball hit to either side, run in a slightly curved path, so that you end up behind the ball with your momentum moving toward the infield. If you run in a straight line to the spot, you will arrive facing sideways, catch the ball with your body moving away from the play, and have to turn before you can throw. A curved route lets you catch and throw in a single motion. Coaches describe it as running "banana-shaped" or arriving "behind the ball".
Tracking a ball that is hit directly at you is the exception. If you can see the ball clearly and it is not going over your head, move toward it and catch it in front of your throwing shoulder.
Catching the ball
Catch with two hands whenever possible. The glove makes the catch, and the other hand covers the ball to keep it in and to be ready for the throw. Younger players are told to catch the ball above the shoulders with fingers up, and below the waist with fingers down. The best place to catch a fly ball is a little in front of the head on the throwing side, since the fielder can see the ball into the glove and has a short distance to bring it to the throwing position.
A few habits help:
- Get under the ball early, so that the last steps are small adjustments.
- Keep your eyes on the ball until it is in the glove.
- Let the glove "give" slightly on a hard-hit ball by pulling it toward the body, as you would with a soft catch.
- Do not catch with the glove held in front of the face blocking the view.
Calling for the ball
Many collisions in youth baseball come from two players who both reach for a ball and neither calls. The rule is easy to teach: if you are going to catch it, say so loudly and say it more than once ("I've got it! I've got it!"). If you hear a teammate call, back off.
Conventions about who has priority are widely taught. The center fielder has priority over the corner outfielders, because he has the best view and is running forward. Outfielders have priority over infielders on a ball hit between them, since the outfielder is running in and can see the whole play while the infielder is running out with his back to the field. The infielder can still call "back" or "take it" if he is the better fielder. Teams should agree on the rules before the game and practice the words in warm-ups.
Ground balls and the throw home
Not every ball is in the air. A ground ball that gets through the infield has to be fielded in a way that keeps the batter from taking an extra base.
When no runner is in scoring position, many coaches teach a "long barrier": get in front of the ball, drop a knee and make a wall with the body so that the ball cannot get past. The ball may still bounce off the chest, but it stays in front of the fielder. When a runner could score, the fielder charges the ball, fields it on the throwing side and throws on the move. The decision is between safe and fast, and it depends on the score and the situation.
The throw is the other half of outfield play. Fielders learn to use a "crow hop", a short skip that brings the back foot forward and lets the body point toward the target before the throw. The throw should be aimed at a cutoff man, usually an infielder lined up between the outfielder and the base, rather than the base itself, unless the runner is certain to be out. A low throw that bounces once and arrives at the glove is generally better than a high throw that loses speed. As a practical matter, an outfielder should get the ball in and throw to the infield on most plays, and should save the long throw for plays where the runner is close to being out.
| Situation | Typical decision |
|---|---|
| Single to outfield, runner on second, game close | Charge, field on the throwing side, throw home or to the cutoff |
| Single to outfield, no runners in scoring position | Field the ball cleanly, throw to the cutoff man or hold the ball |
| Fly ball with a runner on third, fewer than two outs | Catch the ball with momentum toward the plate and throw home |
| Double in the gap | Retrieve quickly, throw to the cutoff man, who relays |
| Big lead late in a game | Keep the ball in front, take the single, avoid the extra base |
The right choice depends on the number of outs, the score and the runners, so it helps to ask before every pitch: where does the ball go if it is hit to me?
Positioning, sun and the fence
Where a fielder stands changes with the hitter, the count and the situation. A fielder who knows that the batter hits the ball hard to the pull side should move that way, and one who is protecting a lead may play deeper to keep balls from going over his head. The standard advice is that a small adjustment is better than a big one and that the coach should call the positioning from the dugout in younger divisions. Wind direction and the field dimensions matter too, which is part of why every park is different; a ballpark page such as Comerica Park shows the dimensions of a major-league park.
The sun and the lights are a big part of outfield play in the day and the night. Sunglasses help, including flip-down models. A glove held up between the sun and the eyes is the other tool. The fielder should never stare at the sun. If he loses the ball, he should say so, so that teammates can help.
The fence is the part of the field where players get hurt. A warning track, a strip of dirt in front of most fences, is the cue that the wall is near, and a fielder should learn to find it with his feet and a glance. Practicing catches at the wall should be done at low speed, with a coach, on a padded fence if there is one, and never at full speed until the player understands how the wall feels. The same goes for fielding near a foul pole or a bullpen. If you coach younger players, keep them away from the fence in drills.
A short practice plan
A good practice block does not need to be long. A coach with a bucket of balls and 20 minutes can cover the basics.
- Throwing warm-up (5 minutes). Easy throws that grow longer, starting close, with a stretch beforehand. Avoid throwing at full effort until the arm is warm. For pitch-count and arm-care guidance that also applies to throwing, see the published guidelines of the governing body, such as Little League.
- Drop-step drill (5 minutes). Players start in a ready position, and on the coach's signal, drop step and run to a cone 20 feet away, then turn and catch a soft toss.
- Fly ball reads (5 minutes). The coach hits or throws balls in different directions, and fielders say "in" or "back" as soon as they can tell.
- Ground balls and the throw (5 minutes). Roll balls to the outfielders, who field them and throw to a cutoff man.
For safety, any drill with a bat should keep other players behind a screen or out of the line of fire, and young players should use softer balls when learning to track the ball. Injury concerns, including pain in the throwing arm, should go to a doctor, and a qualified coach can help with technique.
Common mistakes
- Starting flat-footed. A player who is not moving when the ball is hit loses the first step.
- Stepping in on a ball that goes over. The first step should usually be back.
- Watching the ball the whole way. Run to the spot first, and then look for it.
- Not calling. Say it loudly and say it twice.
- Throwing to the wrong base. Know the situation before the pitch.
- Forgetting to back up. Every throw to a base has an outfielder moving behind it.
Common questions
What if I lose the ball in the sun? Say so right away, put your glove up and try to find it, and let a teammate help. Never stare at the sun.
Should I catch with two hands? Yes, whenever you can. The second hand protects the ball and speeds the throw.
How do I get a stronger arm? By throwing correctly and often, with a proper warm-up, and by building leg and core strength under a coach. Throwing too hard too young is a risk, so go gradually.
Who has priority on a ball between two outfielders? The center fielder has priority over the corner fielders. Agree on the rules in advance.
Is it better to dive? Only when the player is sure he can do it safely. A dive that fails gives the batter an extra base.
Where to go next
A fielder who gets to the ball still needs to understand the runners, so read baserunning fundamentals for young players, and see how to slide safely to understand what the runner is trying to do. For the infield side, try how to play shortstop and second base and how to play first base and third base. More guidance for young players is collected at the youth section.