Baseball Individual Position Drills

Every defensive player on a baseball team needs to master the fundamentals of the game: catching, fielding and throwing. Players at certain positions, however, also need to practice related, but more specialized skills that players at other positions don't have to worry about. Catchers, first basemen and pitchers especially fall into this category. As a coach, conduct drills during each practice for these players to help them learn the skills inherent with the positions they play.

Blocking Drill

While all defensive players will have to block the ball with their bodies at times, the catcher is the only player who is taught to block the ball if it hits the ground rather than catch it in his glove. This two-phase drill teaches catchers how to perform this skill properly.
For the first phase, the catcher starts on his knees with his legs spread as wide as possible, his chest forward, his elbows pinned to his sides and his glove on the ground between his thighs. Repeatedly throw baseballs so they bounce about 1 foot in front of him. The catcher should follow the ball with his eyes so his chin tucks toward his chest and allows the ball to bounce off his chest protector. For the second phase of the drill, the catcher starts from his normal crouched position and drops to his knees after you throw the ball.

Pitcher's Fielding Practice

Pitchers' primary responsibility is to throw pitches to get batters out, but they also have to help their defense by covering first base or home plate, and fielding bunts and ground balls. For the pitcher's fielding practice drill, have your pitchers form a line behind the pitchers mound. After the first pitcher in line throws a pitch to a catcher, hit a bunt in front of home plate, a ground ball back to the pitcher, a ground ball to the first baseman, or simulate a wild pitch by tossing the ball behind home plate. The pitcher then reacts accordingly, completes the play and moves to the back of the line. Cycle through the line several times so each pitcher gets multiple repetitions.

Short Hop Drill

Besides catchers, first basemen have to catch more balls than any other position. Unlike catchers, however, when a ball bounces in front of them, they need to catch the ball to retire opposing base runners. The short hop drill helps first basemen improve their ability to scoop balls out of the dirt. Have two first basemen stand about 10 yards apart, facing each other. To perform the drill, they toss the ball back and forth so it bounces in the dirt 1 to 3 feet in front of each other. They can compete by keeping track of who catches the most balls cleanly.