Technically, there are nine baseball positions, which include: pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, and right field. Despite the few chances of fielding, the right field still has to practice skills as other outfields. Thats why people call it the most dangerous baseball position. Browser Not Supported. He also has to dodge the slides of the runners in case of a double-play. 9 Lee_Doff Minnesota Twins 28 days ago Nothing saps your strength, produces more sustainable injuries, and/or shortens a player's career like donning the tools of ignorance. Today this article will let you know which position in baseball is the easiest. This position requires lightning-fast reflexes and an ability to read pitches effectively. Lets go through the fundamentals of how baseball works and what positions are there on the field, before we actually decide which is the hardest to play. He is placed between the second and third base. Turning double plays is also not a walk in the park. As they play near the first base, first basemen are in charge of handling throws coming in from other infielders and holding the runners at the first base. and our Baseball is a game that requires skill, patience, and strategic thinking. 9. That also means that, for me, even though someone like a first basemen might not be the greatest athlete, they still have a lot of difficulty in front of them. The main reason for this is the fact that this is the position where coaches usually hide players with the worst defensive abilities. This Far! If the fielding team either directly catches the ball hit by the batter, tags a runner with the ball, or grabs the ball and touches a base that a runner is trying to get to before he does, its an out. However, after careful consideration and analysis, we have come up with the top 5 facts you need to know about ranking baseball positions by difficulty. What Does It Mean To Call Time In Baseball? Pitcher The 2 nd hardest position in baseball would be the pitcher. Every decision made from pitch selection to defensive alignments can impact how a game ultimately unfolds in favor one team or another. The tasks of the second baseman are not too difficult. The margin of error is small when a third baseman has to make the longest infield throw to nail a runner at first base. All this means that to be good at center field, a player must have excellent stamina, be exceptionally fast, and be able to get a good read on fly balls. Second basemen require agility and fast hands/feet to cover their base accurately. According to the statistics and the active involvement of each position in a baseball game, the easiest baseball position is the right field. The left fielders are responsible for handling all the hits going past the infield into the left side of the field and throwing the ball back to the best possible target, commonly the shortstop or the third basemen. The pitchers job is not just about throwing strikes but also managing the game effectively. Shortstop demands agility: Shortstop comes in second place due to its high-level athleticism requirements. Every pitch is a split-second decision between blocking a ball in the dirt or throwing out a baserunner stealing from second. And lets not forget about fielding your positionspeaking of Greg Maddux, he has the most Gold Glove awards of anyone at any position with 18. From there you can decide which position is right for you. The position of the catcher is behind the home base. So, most lists of baseball positions ranked by difficulty are pretty similar and look like the one detailed below. Outfield: You better learn to cover ground as an outfielder and fast. Catcher is number two on this list, but can easily be number one. A shortstop is supposed to be a good sprinter- i.e. As most of the hitters in the MLB are right-handed and pull the ball, the 3rd baseman is more of a reaction position than most. So, although he does not have to be a great runner, he must have great strength and reflexes. Plus, there are some positions that are undeniably more demanding than others. In baseball, all positions are important and contribute to the success or failure of the game. What's the Hardest Defensive Position in Baseball? Hint: It's Shortstop Which leads us to left field, which still of course requires great skill, but isnt as difficult as the rest of the positions on the diamond. The pitcher will stand on a mound facing the batter. In conclusion, baseball is not just a game about striking out batters or hitting balls out of the ballpark; its a highly nuanced sport with several intricacies that make each position unique on its own terms. To make it easier to understand, lets take a tour of positions in baseball and their level in terms of difficulty. A pitcher must have impeccable accuracy and velocity, but they also need an arsenal of pitches in their repertoire to keep batters guessing. However, no matter what position you play, you still need to practice well and have good skills. Francisco Lindor, NYM (9) 5. How Many At-Bats Do MLB Players Get in a Season. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the catcher to call the right pitches and make sure that nobody is trying to steal any bases. Second base is often considered to be the least difficult to play of all the infield positions. Pro Pitcher Explains Every Baseball Position - DAN BLEWETT Ultimate Guide to Orange & Black Sports Teams, As a lifelong baseball fan, one thing I love about the sport is that you can watch every game, every year, and still see something new in many of the innings the unfold. Advertisement The shortstop also handles their fair share of pop-ups either in front of them as the infield converges or behind them on balls between the infield and the outfield. Now that we know what the game is basically about, we can understand the field positions next. Firstly, lets take a closer look at the pitcher. The different positions in baseball required a variety of skills. What Do the Numbers Mean in a Double Play? Left fielders need excellent throwing arms combined with great flexibility since they are required to cover vast expanses while catching fly balls. Its also hard for any baseball player to look at the list and concede to the fact that the position they play isnt the most difficult on the field! Similar to the center field and left field, the right field also needs a great arm. You can try reloading the page by clickinghere. This one isnt being listed right after first base as a coincidence, as much of what the first baseman has to deal with is also taken on by the third basemen, but to a lesser degree in terms of having to deal with base runners. 1-866-321-2287. And its not just physical demands a good pitcher needs a complete command of mental game, handling high-pressure constantly switching between different pitch styles based on batter preferences. FLEXIBILITY: The ability to stretch the. Right field is a position that varies in difficulty depending on the level of baseball being played. He fields the area between first and second base, so the area he has to cover looks a bit smaller. Simonton notes that [] Read More: Baseball Positions Ranked by Difficulty In cards, let the images do the talking. However, due to the necessary skills needed to play some of them are more difficult than others. Pop-outs are difficult to navigate in the face of swirling winds, bright sunshine and foul territory with obstacles such ad dugouts and distracting fans. Thats why leadership qualities are often a necessary requirement for success in this position. Pitchers mental toughness: Although physical ability helps pitchers succeed on the mound, their mental toughness is where they distinguish themselves from other positions when it comes down to it. In fact, a lot of ballplayers choose to live just outside the city limits in the suburbs that surround the city their home park [], Are you a newbie interested in baseball, but dont know when it was considered popular or if its even popular any more? As an expert in baseball, I can say that ranking the difficulty of positions in the game is a tricky task. The constant crouching position is terrible for ones legs, yet, the catcher is still expected to sprint down the line and back up first base when they're able, and just like the pitcher, to field bunts or swinging bunts that dribble onto the field. Thats due to their ability to strike opposing hitters out, and prevent run-scoring opportunities quickly which can lead to nerve-wracking situations for entire teams towards end of games. 2. 7. They are responsible for understanding every pitchers strengths and weaknesses as well as any change-ups that occur during games like a batter making adjustments throughout games. Trea Turner, LAD (3) 3. Plus, these spend most of the game moving in and out of the squatting position which is very hard on legs and knees, particularly since catchers do it all while wearing the heaviest protective equipment of any position. As for other positions, center field is the most demanding outfield position, requiring probably the most traditionally athletic build with high speed and good instincts, shortstop is the most demanding infield position as it gets hit to the most, requires fast reflexes, decent range and a good arm. Catchers are responsible for receiving throws from all over the infield while also communicating with pitchers during plays in real-time. The potential for a ground ball in the area of a shortstop is higher than any other player on the field. In addition to the mental and physical demands of the position, catchers must have a solid arm and a high baseball IQ. Corey Seager, TEX (NR) 6. Its no surprise that catcher tops our list of tough positions. Pitcher. Right fielders have similar assignments to their counterparts on the right side of the outfield but see a lot less action as most balls to this area come from left-handed batters who are fairly rare. Baseball is easily among the sports that take the most mental toll on their players. Whether youre an avid fan or just getting into this great game we call baseball, knowing which positions require extraordinary skills can help you enjoy watching or playing more fully. Next up are the infielders; first base, second base, third base (and shortstop). Which Baseball Position Is The Easiest? BaseballTrack The catcher has always been the top contender for the hardest position to play, followed by the pitcher, third base, second base, shortstop, and first base. Concentration is key, as it guarantees that most plays during a game will occur at first base. Thus, this is also one of the most difficult positions in baseball. And, if that wasnt enough pressure, third basemen are also responsible for bunts down the third baseline.