What Are The Infield Positions In Baseball?

If you’re new to baseball, you might be wondering what all the different positions are. Here’s a quick rundown of the infield positions and what they entail.

The Pitcher

The pitcher is the leader of the defense. He or she is responsible for throwing the ball to the catcher, who then tries to get the batter out. The pitcher must also be careful not to let the batter hit the ball.

The Starting Pitcher

The starting pitcher is the player who pitches the first pitch of the game for his team. He is also known as the “ace” or the “number one starter.” A game’s starting pitcher is not necessarily the pitcher who threw the most pitches in that game. In some situations, a relief pitcher who comes in during the middle or late innings may be credited with the win if he was pitching when his team took the lead and held it until the end of the game.

The Relief Pitcher

The relief pitcher is the most specialized of the pitchers. Relief pitchers usually enter the game in a specific situation, called “the relief situation.” This situation can occur at any time during the game, but it is most likely to occur in the late innings of a close game. In baseball, “late innings” refers to any innings after the seventh.

The relief pitcher’s job is to keep the other team from scoring any more runs. This is a difficult task, because the relief pitcher usually comes into the game with runners already on base. Sometimes, the relief pitcher comes into the game with no one on base, but this is not as common.

The relief pitcher who comes into the game with runners on base is said to be “inheriting runners.” It is not an easy task to come into a close game and get outs with runners already on base, but it is what relief pitchers are paid to do.

The Catcher

The catcher is the most important defensive player on a baseball team, and he or she plays a key role in making sure the rest of the infield defense is positioned properly. The catcher’s main duty is to catch pitches that the batter does not hit, but he or she also has to field balls that are hit into the infield and make sure that runners do not advance too far on base. In addition, the catcher is responsible for calling out pitches to the batter, and he or she must have a good understanding of each pitcher’s strengths and weaknesses in order to make effective decisions.

The First Baseman

The first baseman is one of the three infielders on a baseball team. The first baseman is responsible for the area on the field near first base. First basemen must be able to catch throws from infielders and must be able to make throws to second or third base in order to complete a double play.

The Second Baseman

The second baseman is positioned between the first and second basemen. The second baseman tries to field balls hit between himself and the first baseman, as well as balls hit to the right side of the infield. He also tries to turn double plays with the shortstop. The typical second baseman has good fielding skills and a strong arm.

The Third Baseman

The third baseman, often shortened to 3B, is the final player in the infield positioned on the right side of the diamond nearest third base. This position requires a strong and accurate arm as the third baseman is often called upon to make long throws to first base. They must also be quick on their feet as they are regularly required to field hard hit balls. Third basemen must have good instincts and judgement as they are constantly called upon to make decisions regarding whether to attempt a play or hold the ball for an out.

The Shortstop

The shortstop is the captain of the infield. He has the most range of any infielder and is responsible for covering a large portion of the field. He should have a strong arm to make plays from deep in the hole. The shortstop is also responsible for turning double plays with the second baseman.

The Outfielders

The three outfield positions are left field, center field, and right field. These positions are usually occupied by the three best outfielders on the team. The left fielder is responsible for fielding balls hit to the left side of the field, the center fielder for balls hit to center, and the right fielder for balls hit to right.

The Left Fielder

The left fielder is responsible for the area of the field to the catcher’s left (heading out toward left field). This includes roughly the area between the foul line and a line running from halfway between first and second base to halfway between second and third base. The left fielder also must be able to make plays in foul territory along the left-field line.

The best left fielders are often those with good speed, as they can track down balls hit deep in their territory. They must also have a good arm, as they are often called upon to make long throws to home plate to prevent runners from scoring.

The Center Fielder

The outfielder is the player on the baseball field who is stationed in the outfield. The outfield is the area of the field beyond the infield. Outfielders must be able to catch fly balls and throw them back into the infield to prevent the other team from getting extra bases.

The center fielder is responsible for covering a large amount of ground in the outfield. Center fielders must have a strong arm to throw runners out at second base or third base if they try to advance on a hit. Center fielders must also be able to judge where a fly ball will land and run to catch it.

The Right Fielder

The right fielder is the outfielder who plays defense in right field. Like all outfielders they are responsible for catching fly balls and making sure that no runner gets on base when a ball is hit into their territory. Right fielders typically have less range than center fielders, but more power than left fielders. Because of this, they must be able to make quick, accurate throws to home plate in order to prevent extra base runners.