Infielder
From Free net encyclopedia
An infielder is a baseball player who plays on the infield, the dirt portion of a baseball diamond between first base and third base. The infield defensive positions are first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and third baseman. Pitchers and catchers are often considered distinct from infielders even though they play on the infield; they are sometimes described jointly as the battery.
Utility infielders are bench players who can play at least two infield positions. They are often weak hitters but skilled fielders, who enter the game in the late innings as defensive substitutes.
Among infielders, shortstops are generally the best fielders, followed by second basemen, third basemen, and first basemen, respectively. First basemen are generally required to be very talented as many throws are aimed to the runner (at first base). Conversely, more first and third basemen are good hitters than second basemen and shortstops. Second basemen and shortstops are referred to as "Middle Infielders," while third basemen and first baseman are called "Corner Infielders", or simply the "corners".
Almost all infielders throw right handed because of the angle and momentum used in throwing around the infield (especially first base). First basemen are often the only exception where a left-handed thrower is found in the infield.
In racing sports, the infield is the area in the center of an elliptical racetrack, often used as a spectator area.
| Baseball positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Outfielders: | Image:80px-Baseball fielding positions tiny.png | Left field | Center field | Right field | |
| Infielders: | 3rd base | Shortstop | 2nd base | 1st base | ||
| Designated hitter | |||
