First Baseman Receiving Balls Thrown in the Dirt
In a perfect world, every throw that a fielder makes to the first baseman would be directly online and delivered in a way that would record an easy out. Unfortunately, we all know that is not the case. In nearly every game the first baseman is going to be required to field balls that have been thrown into the dirt. When players and coaches think about a first baseman's fielding skills the player's ability to catch balls throw in the dirt is talent that will make the greatest impression on their opinion. The first baseman's ability to field throws in the dirt can frequently make a big difference in games. As such, a first baseman should become as proficient as possible at this sometimes difficult skill.
When infielders make a play on a groundball they have the luxury of moving their feet to get into the best position possible to make a play. This is not the case for the first baseman trying to catch a throw that comes in too short. In order to record the out the first baseman must have his foot on first base. Mastering this skills requires lots of practice and a good approach.
As the throw is coming towards the first baseman he must determine where he thinks the ball is going to land. If possible, he should attempt to catch the ball before it hits the ground. If having the ball bounce is unavoidable the first baseman should try to get his mitt as close to the spot where the ball will bounce as possible. The shorter the bounce that the ball takes the less likely the player is to misplay it. When making the play on a short hop the first baseman should have his mitt angled downward to increase the likelihood of completing the catch. If the mitt is angled upward there is a much greater chance of the ball popping loose.
If the ball can not fielded on a short hop the first baseman should to stay as far back as possible, center their body on the throw, and catch the ball on the first bounce. By staying back on the ball the first baseman will have a little more time to judge where the ball will go and have a greater chance of fielding it cleanly. By centering his body on the ball he decreases the chance that the ball will get by him allowing the runners to take extra bases.
Go To: Receiving Throws From the Catcher.