Fielding Skills

We will preach the 5 F’s of fielding - “Feet, Field, Footwork, Fire, and Follow” - with our infielders.

Feet - Keep your feet active for the pre-pitch. Chop in place or take your L-R-L approach on the pitch delivery.

• Pre-Pitch Flip Drill

Field - Try to get your feet around the ball and establish your angle or direction of the throw.

• Funneling (Kneeling, No Glove or small glove) - Front, Back, Fore

• Short Hops (Kneeling, No Glove or small glove) - Front, Back, Fore

• Funneling (Standing, w/Glove) - Front, Back (Open/Crossover), Fore

• Short Hops (Standing, w/Glove) - Front, Back (Open/Crossover), Fore

Resources:

• Train Like a Big League Infielder (Kai Correa)

• Train Like a Big League Infielder, Vol. 2 (Kai Correa)

Footwork - Get to the spot and set your feet. Establish your angle and direction of the throw, determining if you are going to receive the ball between the feet, on your forehand, on your backhand with an open stance, or on your backhand with a closed stance. After fielding determine if a 2-step replacement step or 4-step is best.

• Weight Transfer Drill

• Pick the Hop

• Triangle and Diamond Drill

• Posture Footwork Drill

• At-Forehand-Backhand Lanes Drill

• Double Play Turns

Resources:

• Infield Training Instruction (Kai Correa)

• Posture Footwork (Trosky Baseball)

Fire - Separate the hands keeping hands close to body with thumbs down and elbows high. Keep arms equal and opposite with a “Tight V” with the throwing arm. Determine the proper arm slot (12 to 5 o’clock) and don’t let the front shoulder fly open. Determine the urgency of the play and make the appropriate throw. Don’t rush a routine play with an average runner.

• Field to Power Position (Standing, w/Glove) - Front, Back, Fore

• Pick Ups

• Pick & Pops or Ozzies (Kneeling, w/Glove) - Front, Back, Fore

• Quick Pick

Resource - Train Like a Big League Infielder (Kai Correa)

Follow Through - Keep the momentum of your body into the throw and afterwards.

• 5 Cone Drill