As the cold months are quickly approaching for many areas of the United States, baseball players will need to find new ways to stay on top of their game during the off-season. If you are looking for a way to stay loose, active and athletic throughout the winter months, you should consider practicing baseball drills specifically designed for the winter months. These drills can be done at home or a gym as an individual player or as part of a team practice.
Pitching Drills
One example of a winter baseball drill that you can practice during the offseason involves distance pitching. Adapted from a softball drill explained on the Softball Performance website, this drill can be completed indoors in either a gym or sports dome. A pitcher and catcher is needed for this drill. To start, the pitcher will begin making throws from a shorter distance than a normal pitch. Over the course of the drill, the pitcher will move back to increase his throwing distance. The focus of this drill is to practice appropriate pitching mechanics and increase arm strength during the off-season.
Indoor Hitting Drill
During the winter, having a chance to practice hitting can only be done indoors. A drill that can be completed at home or in a gym involves using a baseball tied to a string tied to a stationary object. For example, hanging a baseball from a gym's rafters or doorway at waist-height give you a batting target appropriate for this drill. Take a normal batting stance to the side of the hanging ball. Next, focus on swinging the bat on a downward motion in order to make solid contact on the target. As an alternative to using a baseball, waffle balls or rubber balls can also be used. Indoor batting cages can also be used to practice hitting during the colder months.
Indoor Sliding Drill
Using a gym for winter practice sessions can also be helpful for runners looking to work on their sliding. Due to most gyms' waxed, smooth flooring, sliding is much easier than on dirt or gravel on a practice field. As the Softball Spot website suggests, simulating game situations with a team can allow runners to slide into a designated base. For added leg protection, you should consider wearing baseball pants with heavy athletic material when completing this drill on a gym floor.
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