How to Run an Effective Pregame Infield Practice: Drills & Guide

Purpose: Primarily for throwing, but will also impress the opposition if done right.

Suggested to use your regulars and one extra with two catchers.
The fungo hitter hits from behind the mound area on all outfield throwing.

LF- (hit two)
Base hit down just inside foul line where it can be fielded well short of the fence. Throw goes directly to 2B, no cut-off is lined up. 2B tags and throws to third and back of hitter.

Hit two singles straight at LF, throws to plate; 3B steps in for possible cut-off, if cut-off either holds or throws to 2B. Catcher directs the action as throw comes in with help from 2B if ball is cut-off; SS covers third.

Cut-off men are at a distance from target on throws from outfield positions as determined by two things: (1) Outfielder’s arm strength and (2) what type of surface the throw is going to bounce on, whether grass, dirt, wet, hard, etc.

CF to 3B
Hit a base hit to three steps to outfielder’s left, throw goes to 3B, hopefully on one hop, and could be cut off by SS who would throw to 2B, 2B throws to 3B, then to the hitter. If ball is not cut-off by SS, who lines himself up for throw to 3B, third baseman throws to 2B, then to hitter. The same procedure is followed on second base hit to CF, three steps to his right.

It is an advantage if the fungo hitter can hit some one-hop line drives.
To plate: 2 base hits straight away, throws go to plate, should clear the mound in air, 1B steps in as possible cut-off man. Catcher directs the initial action on throw; he either says cut and play 3B back to 3B or 2B. If he says nothing, this means to let it go through. Any time ball goes through, catcher would throw to 3B, and then back to hitter.

RF to 3B
Hit a base hit three steps to fielder’s left. He comes up throwing directly to 3B; SS steps in on line from possible cut. When he cuts, he throws to 2B, who tags and goes to 3B, then to hitter. The second hit is one step to the fielder’s right. The rest of the procedure is the same as the first hit.

To plate: 2 base hits straight to fielder, he throws directly to plate, 1B steps in the line for possible cut-off; catcher directs initial action. If ball goes through to plate, catcher always throws to 3B, then to hitter. If ball is cut, 1B goes to either 2B or 3B as directed by infielders. If to 3B, he throws to 2B then to hitter. If to 2B, he throws to 3B then to hitter.

1st Round Take One
3B: Deep, straight away, hit to his left 1-2 steps to first, to home, to third, to second, to first, to home.
SS: Deep, straight away, hit 2-3 steps to left; throw to 1B, to home, to 2B, to 3B, to home.
2B: Deep, straight away, hit 2-3 steps to left, throw to 1B, to home, to 2B, to 3B, to home.
1B: Deep, straight away, hit 1-2 steps to left, throw to 2B, to 1B, to home, bunt to catcher, throw to 1B, to third, to home.

2nd Round
Same, except ball is hit to right of infielder.

3rd Round Take Two
3B: Medium to base high, straight away; hit 1-2 steps to left, throw to 2B, to 1B, to home, to 3B, to 1B, to home.
SS: Double play depth, straight away; hit 1-2 steps to left, throw to 2B, to 1B, to home, to SS (either cut or tag, throw to plate as directed by back-up man (2B)).
2B: Double play depth, straight away; hit 1-2 steps to left, throw to 2B, to 1B, to home, to 2B (either cut or tag, throw to plate as directed by back-up man (SS)).
1B: Holding runner, hit ball to his left, throw to 2B, to 1B, to plate; bunt to catcher to 2B to 1B to plate.

4th Round
Same as 3rd round except ball hit to right.

Last Round
3B: Deep, straight away, hit to backhand, throw to 1B, to plate.
Base high, hit slow, throw on run to 1B, to plate.
SS: Deep, straight away, hit to backhand, throw to 1B, to plate.
Position – double play depth, straight away. Hit slow roller at him, throw on run to 1B, to plate.
2B: Deep, straight away, hit to backhand, throw to 1B, to plate.
Position – double play depth, straight away. Hit slow roller at him, throw on run to 1B, to plate.
1B: Medium depth, straight away, hit to backhand, throw to plate.
Base high, straight away, hit slow roller straight at him, charge throw on run to 3B, to plate.
Pop up to catcher.