Baseball Positions

Over the last few decades, baseball has witnessed a dramatic increase in fan following across the world. A large part of the credit for this goes to various professional baseball leagues, such as the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. The sport may seem to be a bit confusing to play, or even watch, if you are not well-versed with the positions, and hence understanding them is quite crucial.

Baseball Positions by Numbers

Going by the fundamentals of baseball, there are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each of these positions is assigned a particular number in the count of 1 to 9. Given below is the list of positions along with their corresponding numbers and abbreviations.

1. Pitcher (P)
2. Catcher (C)
3. First Base (1B)
4. Second Base (2B)
5. Third Base (3B)
6. Shortstop (SS)
7. Left Field (LF)
8. Center Field (CF)
9. Right Field (RF)

The numbering system in the sport is important as it helps in several aspects of scoring, including recording the defensive play. Now that you know which are the basic positions in baseball, let's have a look at each of these positions and what they do.

Baseball Positions and What They Do

A look at the layout of baseball diamond and you will realize that it is divided in two parts - the infield and the outfield. The positions which require the players to field within the infield are known as the infield positions, while those which require the player to field outside the infield are known as outfield positions. Infield positions include the first base, second base, third base and shortstop, while outfield positions include the left field, center field and the right field.

Pitcher (P): The pitcher is the player who pitches/throws the baseball from the pitchers mound towards the batter, with the objective of retiring him. The play starts with the pitcher pitching the ball, and the batter is declared 'strike out' if he fails to connect three consecutive pitches. The pitcher is assigned number 1 in the numbering system of baseball.

Catcher (C): The catcher is the player who takes the position behind the home plate, and in front of the umpire, when the pitcher pitches the ball. When the batter misses the hit, the catcher receives the ball, and three such misses by the batter which are received by the catcher sends the batter back. The catcher is assigned number 2 in the numbering system.

First Base (1B): The first baseman is the player fielding in the area close to the first base. This player is responsible for most of the plays made here. The first baseman is assigned number 3 in the numbering system of the game.

Second Base (2B): Like the first baseman who guards the first base, the second baseman guards the area near the second base. he also plays a crucial role in the double play. The second baseman is assigned number 4 in the numbering system.

Third Base (3B): In baseball, the third baseman is the player stationed near the third base, and is responsible for guarding it. In the numbering system, the third baseman is assigned number 5 from the lot.

Shortstop (SS): The shortstop is the fielding position between the second and the third base. The fact that most of the batter are right-handed makes the shortstop one of the most crucial position among these 9 baseball positions. The shortstop is assigned number 6 in the numbering system.

Left Field (LF): The left field is basically the area to your left if you are standing at the home plate and facing the pitchers mound. The player fielding in this area is known as the left fielder. He is assigned number 7 in the numbering system.

Center Field (CF): In baseball, the center fielder is the player defending the center field position, which lies behind the pitcher, between the left and the right field. The center fielder is assigned number 8 in the numbering system of baseball.

Right Field (RF): The right field is the area to your right if you are standing at the home plate and facing the pitchers mound. The player responsible for defending this area is referred to as the right fielder. In the numbering system the right fielder is assigned number 9.

Other than the rules and regulations, positions play a crucial role in raising the excitement quotient of the sport - baseball is no exception. Armed with the basics of baseball rules and positions, you can go on with your baseball training in full swing and make it big in the world of baseball.