The Importance of Aggressiveness as an Infielder

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

            As an infielder, one of the most common mistakes is to sit back or wait for the ball to come to you. The reason that this is considered a mistake is because of multiple reasons; the longer you wait you are allowing the runner to get further down the line, you have not cut any distance off of your throw, you are allowing the ball more opportunities to make a bad hop, and your feet and glove tend to become stagnant while waiting on the ball. Infielders, particularly middle infielders, can avoid this with a mindset.

 If the fielder is looking to attack the ball before the ball is even hit they will be more likely to make that first step towards the ball. This does not mean that the players should be running forward before the ball is hit, but more so expecting to attack the ball. When a player is aggressively attacking the baseball he is more likely to have his head and glove in the right position. Having the head down with the glove (as shown by Tulo in the picture above) allows for the eyes to stay on the ball and see it all the way into the glove. It also keeps the glove in front of the eyes because it is making the aggressive move towards the ball rather than waiting and possibly funneling too soon.

Those first couple steps towards the ball can be the difference between a good hop or a bad hop, between safe and out. Being aggressive with the feet and hands helps to cut down the throwing distance and exchange time. When fielders are moving towards the ball the distance to first is cut down, and likewise when the field is aggressive with the glove movement it speeds up the exchange process because the hands are already moving quicker. There is no rush involved with the exchange, it is more so an aggressive move with the glove that in turn speeds up the hands during the exchange.

As a middle infielder, especially a shortstop, attacking the baseball should be a priority. This does not mean that every play is fielded on the run and thrown off balance, it means that each play the fielder is looking to cut down distance and have a quick smooth exchange with the hands by making an aggressive move with the glove. The more aggressive a fielder is, the less you will find them on their heels. Of the shortstops I’ve worked with over the last several years the timid ones are the one who’ve made the most errors. Aggressive infielders have more success and seem to encounter less bad hops.