First base picking drills to improve your defensive skills. Learn techniques to save errant throws and become a defensive asset at first base.
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First Base Picking Drills: Master The Art of Saving Throws

Why First Base Picking Skills Are Game-Changers

Playing first base isn’t just about catching routine throws. It’s about being the infield’s safety net, turning potential errors into outs, and saving your teammates from costly mistakes. Having coached baseball for over 30 years, I’ve seen countless games won or lost based on a first baseman’s ability to pick errant throws. The difference between an average first baseman and an exceptional one often comes down to picking technique – that special skill of scooping low throws, handling high throws, and adjusting to off-target throws without losing contact with the bag. The good news? With the right drills and consistent practice, any player can develop these game-saving skills.

Essential First Base Picking Fundamentals

Before diving into specific drills, let’s cover the core fundamentals that make for excellent picking at first base:

The Ready Position

Your success as a first baseman starts with the proper ready position. Keep your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart with knees bent. Your weight should be on the balls of your feet – never flat-footed. Keep your glove hand low and out front, presenting a clear target for infielders. This athletic stance allows you to move quickly in any direction to handle off-target throws.

Footwork Around the Bag

Knowing how to position your feet relative to the bag is crucial. For routine throws, keep your throwing-side foot on the inside corner of the base. This gives infielders a clear target while maintaining your stretch. For picks, you need to maintain contact with the bag while giving yourself maximum reach. Your footwork should be automatic, allowing you to focus entirely on the incoming throw.

The “Scoop” Technique

For low throws, use a true scooping motion rather than stabbing at the ball. Start with your glove low to the ground, fingers pointing down. As you scoop, bring your glove up toward your body like you’re shoveling sand. Keep your non-glove hand nearby for stability. The smooth, upward motion creates a natural pocket for the ball to settle into.

5 Game-Changing First Base Picking Drills

1. The Rapid-Fire Scoop Drill

Have a coach or teammate stand 10-15 feet away and rapidly toss balls that bounce just before reaching you. Start with 10 straight-on bounces, then 10 to your right, and 10 to your left. Focus on proper technique rather than speed. As you improve, increase the pace and vary the bounces. This drill builds muscle memory for the scooping motion while training your eyes to track the ball’s bounce trajectory.

2. The In-Between Hop Challenge

The most difficult picks often come on in-between hops – not quite short enough for a scoop, not quite high enough for a chest catch. For this drill, have a partner deliberately throw balls that will hit the “in-between zone” about 3-5 feet in front of you. Practice reading the hop early and adjusting your body position to handle these tough chances. The key here is learning to read the trajectory quickly and make split-second adjustments.

3. The Stretch-and-Pick Simulation

This drill combines footwork with picking skills. Position yourself at first base in a proper stretch position. Have teammates at shortstop and second base alternate throwing balls in the dirt toward first. You must maintain proper foot contact with the bag while picking the throws. This simulates game conditions where you’re stretched out trying to get the runner while handling a tough throw.

4. The Glove-Side Reach Drill

Many throws pull the first baseman off the bag toward second base. In this drill, start with your foot on the bag, then have a partner throw balls that force you to reach to your glove side while maintaining contact with the base. This builds the specific skill of extending your reach while keeping your foot in contact with the bag – a crucial game situation skill.

5. The One-Handed Pick Drill

Sometimes you’ll need to make a pick with only your glove hand available. Practice fielding low throws with just your glove hand while maintaining your stretch position. This builds confidence for game situations where your non-glove hand isn’t available to help secure the ball.

Take Your First Base Defense to the Next Level

Ready to become the first baseman your team can’t play without? These picking drills aren’t just practice – they’re investments in becoming a defensive game-changer. Remember that consistency is key. Even 15 minutes of focused pick drill work several times a week will dramatically improve your skills over a season.

For all your baseball training needs, from field equipment to specialized training aids that can help develop these exact skills, we’re here to help. With over 25 years in the game, we’ve tested what works and what doesn’t when it comes to developing first-class first basemen.