BUILDING A PERFECT PRACTICE

The 12 Infield Throws

One of the key reasons infielders make throwing errors is faulty footwork.  They’re off balance or rushed or out of rhythm.  I teach 12 infield throws to first base to correct this problem.

If you do these 12 two or three times a week you’ll develop a feel for your footwork, the timing, the cadence.  And you will seldom ever make a bad throw.

We’re not fielding here.  Just throwing.  So you start with the ball in the glove.  As you perfect these moves a coach can roll the ball.  But the emphasis is always on throwing.

At virtually every practice my PBL or college infielders would run through all 12 from second and short.  Any where from 24 t 72 throws each workout.  Then we moved on to groundballs but only with short double play feeds to make sure they didn’t get sore.  We’d already taken care of throws to first.

A good start. Now let’s dissect your footwork.

1) Step through.  This is essentially a forward crow hop.  Every MLB infielder uses it all the time. The right foot steps in front of your body, an aggressive move toward first base. 

CRUCIAL–Square the foot up as it lands and then step with your left foot and throw.  The Step Through insures you’ll close up your front side, aim your shoulder at the target, and stay perfectly balanced.

2) Crow Hop.  Every young infielder knows this basic move.  The right foot goes behind the left foot or heel to heel.  Then step with the left foot and throw.

3) Step Through, Crow Hop.  Hard hit groundball.  You have to give the first baseman time to get to the bag.  Do you just stand there and wait?  Of course not, that gives you too much time to think, which causes tension, and destroys the rhythm and momentum you gained as you played through the ball.    

So you do a double.  Step through with your right foot, step with your left, then crowhop, step and throw.  This gives the first baseman time and cuts the distance.  When he played 3 B Alex Rodriguez used this as often as Penn and Teller make magic.  It shortened his throws any where from 12 to 15 feet.

4) Double Crow Hop.  If the first baseman is playing deep, you’ll often see a shortstop do a quick heel to heel triple.

5) Going to your left.  Set-up at second base, break toward the hole, simulate picking up the groundball, and cut it loose.  THE KEY—Make sure you point your left shoulder at first base.

6) 360 to your left.  Now you’re going deep into the hole.  Scoop the ball on the run, and do a complete 360. 

7) Backhand.  Crossover to your right, field the ball on your back hand.  Plant. Step. Throw.

Now we get a bit more complex.

8) Jump shot off your left foot.  Drive to your right, full out, scoop the GB, step on to your left foot, elevate, pivot your body in the air, and throw before you land.  It’s acrobatic and it makes the highlight videos.  Second basemen use it a lot and it was Derek Jeter’s favourite double play feed.

9) Jump shot off your right foot.  Same as above but a bit tougher because now you’re jumping off your right foot. 

Charging and throwing on the run is paramount

10) Quick release.  Routine groundball but you know the hitter can fly.  No time for a step through or crow hop.  Just take a short, quick jab step with your right foot to get moving.  Then a snap throw.

11) Play through the ball backhand.  This is also a quick release.   Coaches preach getting around the ball as much as possible.  Fine.  But it’s quicker to take a high chop backhanded, even when it’s right at you.  By turning your glove you’re setting up to throw before the ball arrives and your left shoulder is already aimed at first base.  Quick jab step and throw.  Shortstop Jimmy Rollins used this one as often as Mahomes throws TD passes and it allowed him to get rid of the ball in a nano second.

12) Charge.  I saved this one for last because it’s my favourite.  And it just may be the most important throw an infielder will ever learn. 

Here’s something you’ll see a lot with young kids.  The hitter drizzles a groundball and it rolls toward the shortstop, who holds his ground, fields the ball cleanly and makes a sold throw.  But the hitter beats it out by two steps.  And his coach yells, “Nice try.” 

But it isn’t a try at all.  You can’t sit back on groundballs, you have to play the ball aggressively all the time.  And, on a slow roller, you have to be Mad Max, charging full out.  When you watch an MLB game count how many times infielders field the ball on the run, full tilt, Gung Ho.  Often a third of their throws are charges.   

Charging lets a middle infielder set-up deeper to increase his range and catch a lot more looping line drives and pop-ups.

We’ll examine charges in our next post.  Stay tuned.