This comprehensive guide covers everything from fundamental infield positioning to advanced game situation training, helping coaches and players master all aspects of baseball infield play.
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The Complete Guide to Baseball Infield Training Techniques

Ask any baseball coach what separates good teams from great ones, and they’ll likely point to infield defense. After 30+ years in baseball, I’ve seen firsthand how solid infield play becomes the backbone of championship teams. This guide brings together decades of coaching experience to help you develop a rock-solid infield that makes routine plays consistently and turns the difficult ones regularly.

Whether you’re coaching high school, college, or municipal programs, the techniques in this guide will transform your infield into a defensive powerhouse. Let’s turn your infielders into the confident, skilled defenders that win games when it matters most.

What You’ll Learn In This Guide

• Fundamental Infield Positioning
• Proper Fielding Mechanics
• Double Play Techniques
• Advanced Infield Drills
• Position-Specific Skills Development
• Infield Communication Systems
• Game Situation Training

Fundamental Infield Positioning

The foundation of exceptional infield defense starts before the ball is even hit. Proper pre-pitch positioning can be the difference between a routine play and no play at all.

Ready Position Fundamentals

The ready position isn’t just standing with your glove out. It’s a dynamic, athletic stance that allows for explosive first steps in any direction. Your infielders should:

Set up with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, weight balanced on the balls of their feet. As the pitcher begins their delivery, infielders should slightly raise their heels, creating that “ready to pounce” feeling. Gloves should be out front, creating a target at chest level with the throwing hand positioned for a quick transfer.

Situational Positioning Adjustments

Smart infielders adjust their positioning based on the game situation. With runners on base, middle infielders need to balance double play coverage with field range. Against pull hitters, the entire infield might shift several steps. Teaching your players to consider count, batter tendencies, and game situation takes their defensive IQ to another level.

We recommend keeping a detailed chart of opposing hitters, noting tendencies that can help you position infielders optimally. This seemingly small advantage often makes the difference in close games.

Pre-Pitch Communication

Before each pitch, infielders should know who’s covering bases on potential steals, who’s taking throws on cutoffs, and who’s covering second on a double play ball. This happens through quick verbal calls and subtle hand signals that become second nature with practice.

The shortstop typically serves as the infield quarterback, making coverage calls before each pitch. [Link to blog post on infield communication]

Proper Fielding Mechanics

The Approach to the Ball

Many fielding errors happen because of poor approach angles. Teach your infielders to take efficient paths to the ball, working to get their body in front of the ground ball whenever possible.

For routine grounders, infielders should attack the ball, meeting it out front on the hop they want. For tougher plays to their right or left, they need to gain ground while staying under control, creating the best possible fielding angle.

Glove Positioning and Footwork

The core principle of clean fielding is creating a solid platform. Infielders should field with a wide base, glove out front, and seat lowered. The glove and throwing hand work together, with the throwing hand ready to secure the ball and transition to the throw.

One common mistake is reaching for the ball instead of moving the feet to get in position. Quality footwork means the glove becomes the finishing touch on a well-executed approach to the ball.

The Transfer and Throw

After fielding, the transfer to throwing position should be one smooth motion. Infielders should practice the center-chest transfer, bringing the ball to the middle of the chest before separating to throw. This creates consistent throwing mechanics, even under pressure.

For throws across the diamond, teach the importance of proper footwork during the release, using momentum to deliver accurate throws with zip. First basemen should practice picking throws, giving infielders confidence to release quickly.

Double Play Techniques

The Pivot at Second Base

The difference between an attempted double play and a completed one often comes down to pivot technique at second base. Both shortstops and second basemen need to master multiple pivot methods:

The traditional straddling method uses the base for protection while allowing a clear throwing lane. The side-saddle technique creates quicker transitions but requires more precise footwork. We’ve found teaching both methods creates versatile middle infielders who can adapt to different feed throws.

Feed Throws and Hand Signals

Consistent feeds make pivots significantly easier. Shortstops and second basemen should practice underhand feeds, shovel tosses, and glove flips to become comfortable with each technique. The feed should arrive at chest height, allowing the pivot man to quickly transfer and throw.

Hand signals between middle infielders help indicate who’s covering second on potential double plays. These non-verbal cues become crucial with crowd noise or when playing on fields with poor sightlines.

Timing and Rhythm

Great double play combinations develop a rhythm that can’t be taught overnight. Regular repetition builds the timing that turns potential double plays into actual twin killings. The cadence of field, feed, pivot, throw should become second nature through consistent drilling.

Many coaches underestimate how much practice time should be dedicated to double plays. We recommend at least 15 minutes of focused double play work in every full practice session.

Advanced Infield Drills

Rapid Fire Drills

To develop quick hands and improve reaction time, few methods work better than rapid-fire drills. Position a coach or player with a bucket of balls about 15 feet from the infielder. Deliver ground balls in quick succession, forcing the player to field cleanly, simulate a throw, and reset immediately.

Start with 10 consecutive grounders, gradually increasing to 15-20 as players develop stamina. This drill simulates game pressure and builds the mental toughness needed for late-inning situations.

Range Enhancement Exercises

Expanding lateral range requires specific training focused on first-step quickness and efficient pathways to the ball. The clock drill places the infielder in the center of an imaginary clock, with a coach calling out different “times” (directions) and hitting accordingly. This forces players to react quickly in all directions.

For more advanced teams, incorporate reaction balls (odd-shaped training balls that bounce unpredictably) to develop hand-eye coordination and adaptability when balls take bad hops.

Throwing Accuracy Development

Fielding is only half the equation—throws must be accurate and on-target. The partner relay drill develops throwing accuracy under time constraints. Infielders line up in two lines facing each other about 60 feet apart. The first player fields a grounder, throws to their partner, then rotates to the back of the line.

Keep score by counting consecutive successful catches without an error. This creates competitive energy while developing the consistency needed for game situations.

Position-Specific Skills Development

Shortstop Skills

The shortstop position demands the strongest arm and quickest reactions in the infield. Focus on developing your shortstops’ ability to make the throw from deep in the hole, both from set positions and on the run.

The backhand play requires special attention—many shortstops struggle with maintaining momentum toward first while fielding backhanded. The jump-throw technique should be practiced regularly, though coaches should emphasize using it only when necessary rather than as a default mechanism.

Second Base Techniques

Second basemen face unique challenges, particularly on the double play turn with runners bearing down on them. Develop their ability to quickly clear the baseline after making the pivot throw to avoid collisions.

Another key skill is the reverse pivot when ranging far to their right. This technique allows second basemen to field balls deep in the hole and make strong, accurate throws without stopping their momentum.

Third Base Reaction Training

The hot corner requires exceptional reaction time and a fearlessness that must be developed through specific training. Close-range reaction drills using hard fungoes help third basemen become comfortable with hard-hit balls.

Third basemen also need to master charging slow rollers, fielding bare-handed when necessary, and making strong, accurate throws on the run. The balance between aggressiveness and control is particularly important at this position.

First Base Receiving Skills

While often overlooked, first base requires specific technical skills to save infielders from throwing errors. Footwork around the bag, particularly finding it while watching an incoming throw, should be drilled until automatic.

Develop your first basemen’s ability to pick low throws, stretch for wide throws, and come off the bag strategically when necessary. A skilled first baseman can improve your entire infield’s defensive metrics simply by saving throws that might otherwise result in errors.

Infield Communication Systems

Verbal Communication Protocols

Clear, consistent communication prevents costly errors and confusion. Establish standard verbal calls that all infielders understand:

“Mine!” should be called loud and early when taking charge on a pop-up. “You!” directs another player to make the play. Number calls like “One! One!” can indicate first base coverage on bunt plays. Developing these standard calls creates a defensive language all players understand.

Non-Verbal Signaling

When crowd noise makes verbal communication difficult, non-verbal signals become essential. Middle infielders should use hand signals to indicate who’s covering second base on steals or potential double plays.

Glove taps, finger points, and other subtle gestures can communicate defensive alignments without tipping off the opposition. These systems should be practiced regularly so they become second nature in game situations.

Coverage Responsibility Charts

Create clear responsibility charts that define who covers bases in various game situations. With runners on first and third, for example, players should know instantly who covers second on a steal attempt.

These responsibilities should be drilled regularly through situation-based practices where coaches call out game scenarios and players quickly move to their coverage positions without hesitation.

Game Situation Training

Bunt Defense Strategies

Effective bunt defense requires coordination between infielders and pitchers. Establish clear coverage responsibilities based on bunt location and game situation. Corner infielders need to develop the ability to charge quickly while making accurate throws to different bases.

Wheel plays, safety squeezes, and sacrifice situations each require different defensive alignments. These should be practiced as distinct situations rather than generic “bunt defense” scenarios.

Rundown Techniques

Properly executed rundowns (also called “pickles”) should result in an out nearly every time. The key principles include: maintain a short distance between fielders, always force the runner back toward the original base, and make throws chest-high to the glove side.

Common mistakes include too many throws, poor positioning that creates escape lanes, and hesitation that allows runners to retreat safely. Regular drilling eliminates these errors.

Cut-Off and Relay Systems

Outfield hits requiring multiple relay throws demand precise positioning from infielders. Shortstops and second basemen must learn proper alignment techniques, creating straight lines from the outfield to the target base.

Decision-making on whether to cut throws or let them through should be practiced in game-like situations. Infielders need clear criteria for when to cut a throw versus when to let it continue to the plate or another base.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time should we dedicate to infield practice each week?

For competitive high school and college programs, we recommend a minimum of 20-30 minutes of dedicated infield work in each practice session. This should include both individual position-specific training and full-infield integration drills. Quality trumps quantity—focused, game-speed repetitions develop skills more effectively than casual fielding sessions.

What’s the most effective way to correct a player’s fielding mechanics?

Always start with one specific adjustment rather than overwhelming players with multiple corrections. Use video analysis when possible to show rather than just tell. Implement the “sandwich approach”—begin with what they’re doing well, address the needed correction, then end with positive reinforcement. Create drills that specifically target the mechanical issue rather than just pointing it out verbally.

How do you develop mental toughness in infielders after they make errors?

Mental resilience comes from proper preparation and a healthy perspective on mistakes. Implement “error recovery” drills where players must immediately make another play after a simulated error. Teach players to focus on the next play with a consistent routine between pitches. Create a team culture that acknowledges errors as part of the game while maintaining high standards. The coach’s reaction to errors sets the tone—stay composed and solution-focused rather than punitive.

Testimonials

We’re committed to helping players and coaches develop championship-level infield defense. We’ll be adding success stories from coaches and players who have implemented these techniques. Check back soon for testimonials from programs that have elevated their infield play through these training methods!

Take Your Infield Defense to the Next Level

A championship-caliber infield doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a systematic approach to skill development, consistent practice routines, and attention to the technical details that separate average infielders from exceptional ones.

The techniques outlined in this guide represent decades of baseball experience distilled into actionable training methods. Whether you’re building a high school program or coaching at the collegiate level, implementing these approaches will elevate your infield’s performance.

Remember that defensive excellence is built daily through quality repetitions and attention to detail. The best infields make the routine plays consistently and turn the difficult ones regularly enough to change the outcomes of close games.

For more personalized guidance on developing your infield, or to explore our professional-grade training equipment designed specifically for infield development, contact us at (512) 251-4487 or visit our product section featuring specialized infield training aids.

At BaseballTips.com, we’ve been helping coaches build successful programs since 1999. Let us help you develop the defensive foundation that wins championships.