Throwing from Various Positions

While pitching is an important part of the game of baseball, throwing from all of the positions on the field have to be accurate. Different arm slots and ways to throw the ball are more effective in different circumstances. Outfielders, infielders, and catchers all need to be proficient in throwing from different arm slots. Aside from the arm slot, it is critical to use your glove hand as a target for throwing. A useful analogy often used is describing your glove hand as being the scope of your gun. Here we will discuss the different types of ways that players throw the ball in the game of baseball.

Infielders

Infielders are probably the most dynamic in the way in which they throw the ball. Sometimes they must short-arm it and other times rear back and throw it with everything they’ve got. Upon fielding the ball, infielders then begin shuffling towards their intended target. The faster they get rid of the ball, the more likely they are to get the runner out. The ball is always the fastest moving person in the game of baseball. To get rid of it fast, most infielders short arm the ball. This is done by only bringing the ball to about your ear before stepping and throwing the ball. For longer throws, an infielder may need to rear all the way back and release. The easiest way to minimize the amount of time you hold onto the ball as an infielder is to have proper momentum moving towards your target. 

Outfielders

Outfielders must muster up a bunch of strength to make longer throws than infielders do. This is accomplished the same way: by getting your momentum moving towards your target. However, outfielders normally perform what is called a crow hop instead of shuffling sideways towards their target as an infielder does. Outfielders normally throw by extending their arm all way back and throwing over the top of their body. By throwing over the top of their body, the long throw they are about to make will continue on its path to the intended target. 

Catchers 

Catchers have a unique throwing motion, because they must get rid of the ball quicker than any other position. Catchers sometimes take one step into their throw, shuffle into it, or simply throw from their knees. Throwing from your knees will cause the ball to leave the catcher’s mitt more quickly, but also the catcher will not be able to gain any momentum into their throw. The most common way to throw is to step into the throw. Catchers normally always throw from a short-arm position. This is the decrease the amount of time they hold onto the ball. A typical professional catcher pop time is about 1.7 seconds. This means that it takes 1.7 seconds from the time it hits the catcher’s mitt to hit the second baseman’s glove. 

The universal grip 

All players that are throwing a ball, no matter where they are at on the field, use the universal four-seam fastball grip. As we discussed in the pitch type blog, the four-seam grip causes the ball to have little movement, which is what you want when throwing at a target. Sometimes it can be hard to instantly grip the ball this way when you are in a rush to throw, so that is why it is important to practice picking up a ball in that grip. 

Conclusion

Making accurate throws as well as getting rid of the ball quickly is crucial to the success of a baseball team. The form and way in which a player throws the ball could be the difference between a runner being out or safe.