First Basemen Position Essentials

Have your right foot against the front inside part of the bag closest to the pitcher with your left foot toward the pitcher (for righties). For lefties, your right foot against the front inside part of the bag and left foot down the line toward the batter with your toes pointing toward the pitcher. This will put your body in a better position to handle all throws from the pitcher. After pitcher commits to throw home, come off the bag under control and square your body to the plate in fielding position. Coming off the bag your steps will be right, left, right.

 

5. Throwing to pitcher covering first

For shorter throws, use underhand toss. Take ball out of glove and let pitcher see it, give him a firm toss (as soon as possible to give him time to locate the bag), chest high out in front of him, and let your momentum carry you toward pitcher. Longer throws require you to be more of a quarterback and lead the pitcher. Again, get him ball as soon as possible, out in front of him, chest high with a little something on it. For an in-between length throw, it’s always better to get your momentum going toward the pitcher and use the underhand toss, you may have to take an extra step or two in this case.

 

6. Positioning

Play as far off the base as you can and still comfortably get back to the bag on a ground ball.

 

7. First step quickness

This requires a good creep step. For righties, the step sequence is right-left. For lefties it’s the opposite, left-right. Hands should be out in front of you with weight on balls of feet, knees inside of feet, and feet spread wider than shoulder width in a good athletic position. Lots of players after their creep step like to take a little hop. Either way, creep step or creep step with a hop, the timing is you should be in your athletic fielding position as the ball crosses the plate.

 

8. How to think as a first baseman

You are the last line of defense and considered your infielders’ best friend. You must do everything in your power to stop the throw from the infielder so the runner does not have a chance to advance. On errant throws, catch the ball first. On ground balls, you have the luxury of the pitcher covering. Worse case scenario, block the ball, knock it down and you still have a chance to get the runner out. Ground balls in the hole may be a problem, but it is your responsibility to field your position. If you go for a ball and don’t get it, it is the pitcher’s responsibility to cover the bag. The one time you don’t go for a ground ball may be the one time it gets through and you could have reached it. Know the situation in the game ahead of time and know what you need to do in all situations before the pitch is thrown. Expect the ball.

 

9. Infielder Essentials

 

Creep Step