In our previous writing, we discussed the purpose and fundamentals of being an infielder in the game of baseball. We talked about the “Five F’s of Fielding.” While those five F’s look a little different when we translate them to the outfield, they all still apply. An outfielder will still need footwork, to field the ball, funnel the ball, fire, and follow through. As an outfielder, your throws can become a lot longer than an infielder, so proper mechanics is necessary when you are fielding as an outfielder.
The Footwork:
Infielders start there whole process of fielding with a relatively wide base. Most of their movement is laterally within a range of around 50 feet. However, an outfielder must cover a lot of ground in a small amount of time to catch a fly ball or throw a ball in to keep a runner from advancing. Typically, an outfielder stands with feet almost shoulder width apart, but they normally stagger their feet. They don’t set up square to the batter because their first step should always be back. This brings me to a good point. The first step of an outfielder on any ball hit in their direction should ALWAYS be back. Why? Simple. Because it’s a lot easier to go forward than it is to go backwards! If all of your momentum is moving forward and the ball is going to be hit over your head, it will be a lot harder to make the correction before the ball hits the ground. If your first step is back, it also gives you time to evaluate how deep the ball is going to be hit and where your next move should be.
Outfielders also approach ground balls differently than infielders depending on the situation. If they need to get rid of the ball quick and make a long throw, it is not necessary or correct to completely break down to field the ball as an infielder does. Outfielders typically run through the ball with their glove low enough to receive the ball into their glove. When catching a fly ball, an outfielder should catch the ball as they are moving towards their next intended throwing target. You must keep your feet moving while catching a fly ball so that you can adjust your body as needed. It is very easy to misjudge a ball that is hit when the wind is pumping 15 mph and the fans in the stands are yelling at the top of their lungs. Remember, we first stated that baseball is a very mental game.
Fire and Follow Through:
The fire a follow through is similar to an infielder except the majority of your throws are much longer. As an outfielder, after you field the ball, you want to crop hop into your throw to gain momentum. Infielders shuffle sideways before throwing it to get their momentum towards their target, but you need everything in your body to make an effective throw as an outfielder. The follow through should be finishing the throw moving towards your target. Your arm should finish by crossing over your glove side knee. A proper follow through will lead to a more effective throw.
Conclusion:
There can be many comparison drawn between infielders and outfields, but they are definitely very distinct positions. Outfielders are typically very fast with very strong arms. Their footwork is one of the big differences that distinguishes them between infielders. If one can master fielding as both an infielder and an outfielder, it opens the door for so many options for that player. They will then be seen as what is called a utility player.
Nolan Ricketson's Baseball Analytics 