Shortstop The shortstop positions himself between the third baseman and the second-base bag. More from Positions. Connect with MLB. It then evolved to shortstop, as he would no longer act as a cutoff man but as a stop to the short side of the field. Meaning players in the outfield could not reach a base or even getting the ball back to the pitcher. Doc remained with the Knickerbockers until , where he helped invent and revolutionize one of the most prolific positions in baseball. A shortstop is one of the most important positions on the field.
As mentioned, most baseballs are hit to the shortstop position. Shortstop requires a talented glove, the ability to turn double plays, and last act as the cutoff man between the center and left fielder.
Believe it or not, the scores of baseball games looked like American football scores. The addition of the shortstop eliminated the large gaps on the left side of the field and brought the score down dramatically.
In addition to fielding ground balls, the shortstop position must catch fly balls and turn double plays from the second baseman and other infielders. When looking at a box score, or a graphic about baseball positions, you may see that shortstop is numbered 6.
If a shortstop has a lot of offensive potential, but his defense is not up to par, then he is often moved to one of the other infield positions. With that being said, more shortstops than ever are great hitters as well as great defenders.
Several years ago, it was thought that shortstops had to be smaller, quicker players. Cal Ripken Jr. Ripken stood 6 foot 4 inches and displayed an offensive production at the position that had not been seen in a long time. Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Troy Tulowitzki, and a host of others all stood 6 foot 3 or taller helping to break the mold of what shortstops used to be.
All in all, a shortstop must be quick enough to cover ground, sure-handed enough to make as few errors as possible, and have a strong enough arm to make tough throws from deep in the infield. The most recent shortstop to make his way into the Hall of Fame is longtime Yankees captain Derek Jeter.
Jeter was only one vote shy of being a unanimous selection. He had a 20 year career and eclipsed the 3, hit mark late in his tenure. Some argued throughout his career that Jeter was never the best or most talented shortstop in the MLB, but no one can debate his consistency as both a defender and a hitter. He won several World Series titles and made clutch plays in the field and at the plate in each of them. Wagner was the first shortstop to ever be inducted into Cooperstown in He actually played every position in his Major League career except catcher, but his primary position was shortstop.
Second base. Size and stature are of little importance. Speed, quickness and good fielding ability are. A second baseman needs to know what to do when there are runners on base such as to know that, if the ball is hit to him with a runner on first, to touch second base, or tag the runner, and then throw to first. This player has more ground to cover than any other player does and must be fast, quick, agile and have a strong throwing arm.
The shortstop will potentially field more ground balls, in more off-balance positions, than any other player. Like the second baseman, the shortstop needs to be to think ahead.
My Account Sign In. Connect with us:. Baseball Sports The Sport. There are 9 players on a baseball field:. Generally the team leader since he or she is the only player facing his or teammates.
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