Re: MLB Questions--Any MLB fans help a UK Old Timer
So to avoid some confusion, I wouldn't call those players typical. They are all stars and that can lead to some confusion. I would say they are examples.
Your typical position players are not all stars. They are players that come in and do the job daily. They have good days and bad days, but it is important to remember that more of the MLB floats around average, not All star caliber, Rookie of the Year, or Mickey Mantle skill set.
The skillset needed to play each position is primarily determined by two important factors:
1. The dimensions of the diamond
2. The fact that the majority of hitters will be right handed
First Base
Your first baseman is generally your worst fielder in the infield and is generally a better hitter than fielder.
As mentioned above, most hitters are right handed, so the majority of hits will be away from first base. The one fielding skill that's most important for a first baseman is being able to catch or pick throws from other infielders. Every time a ball is put in play, there will always be a runner going from the batter's box to first, so that's where the majority of outs will occur, and the second and third basemen, as well as the shortstop will therefore be throwing to first frequently.
A first baseman is typically someone whose bat is good enough that they need to be in the lineup but whose fielding is not good enough to play elsewhere.
Typical first baseman: Freddie Freeman
Second Base
Your second baseman is generally a good fielder, though not your best. Balls will be hit into the gap between first and second relatively often so they need to be able to field those balls effectively, and to have good range and mobility to cover ground. However, because most hitters will be right handed, ground balls will not come to second as often as they will go to the shortstop.
A second baseman's arm is generally weaker than other positions. The second baseman is halfway between first and second base, so they only need to throw a short distance to either base to get an out.
Typical second baseman: Jonathan India
Third Base
Your third baseman is generally an adequate fielder but, like the first baseman, they are typically in the lineup for their hitting rather than their fielding.
Because most hitters are right handed, the ball will be hit towards third more often than first. Additionally, if the ball is pulled all the way over towards third base or the foul line, it will typically be travelling very quickly. This is why third base is referred to as the 'hot corner', because balls will be coming at you hot. The third baseman therefore needs to be able to react quickly and make catches.
The other unique thing about the third baseman is their arm strength. As mentioned earlier, most outs will be made at first base. Because of his position on the diamond, the third baseman will be the furthest away from first, and therefore needs the strongest arm to zip the ball all the way across the diamond before the runner can reach base.
Because of the strength in their arm, third baseman are also typically power hitters.
Typical third baseman: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop
The shortstop is typically the most athletic and best fielder in the infield. Because most hitters are right handed, the majority of ground balls will be hit between second and third base. The shortstop needs elite quickness, mobility, and range to be able to reach and field these ground balls.
The shortstop should also have a strong arm, though maybe not quite as strong as the third baseman's. Though sometimes they will be making a short throw to second, often they will be required to throw from the shortstop hole directly to first, and these throws will often be made on the run or with unconventional body positioning.
Shortstops make the lineup because of their defensive capabilities, even if they cannot hit. That's why a shortstop that defends the position well and can also hit is one of the most valuable players in the game.
Typical shortstop: Francisco Lindor
Right Field
Like the third baseman, one of the most important things for a right fielder to possess is a strong arm. Right fielders will often be fielding fly balls, which means that there may be a runner trying to tag up to third or even get home on a sacrifice fly. The right fielder needs to be able to throw basically the distance of the entire field from his positions all the way to third base or home plate, so needs a huge arm to get this done. A big armed right fielder can also get the ball to second base quickly to prevent a runner from turning a single into a double.
Right fielders are typically slower and less mobile than other outfielders. They are tucked away in the corner of the outfield and do not have a large area of the field to cover. Like a third baseman, they are typically a big arm and a power bat.
Typical right fielder: Aaron Judge
Centre Field
Alongside the shortstop, the centre fielder is typically one of the best defenders on the field. They have the most ground to cover by far, and need speed and range to get under fly balls and make catches.
Like right fielders, centre fielders will often be making throws to second, third, or home plate so being able to throw accurately over long distances is also relatively important, though less so than other defensive skills.
Like the shortstops, many centre fielders will be in the lineup because of their defensive capabilities. A centre fielder that can defend their position to a high level and also hit is also a superstar.
Typical centre fielder: Mike Trout
Left Field
Left fielders typically do not excel at anything. If they did, they would likely be playing another position. Instead, they are typically simply solid all around players.
Left fielders do not typically have the arm strength of a right fielder. The throws to second, third, or home that are typically made by outfielders are a much shorter distance for the left fielder, given his starting position, so a weaker arm can still get the ball where it needs to be.
Similarly, left fielders do not typically have the range or defensive capabilities of a centre fielder. Like the right fielder, they are tucked away in the corner of the outfield and have less range to cover. If a ball is hit high, it will either be over the wall for a home run, or the left fielder will be able to position himself to catch it. If the ball is hit on the ground, the shortstop or third baseman will generally field the ball before it reaches the outfield.
Left fielders are typically a solid bat in the lineup with no real elite qualities.
Typical left fielder: Jessie Winker
1. The dimensions of the diamond
2. The fact that the majority of hitters will be right handed
First Base
Your first baseman is generally your worst fielder in the infield and is generally a better hitter than fielder.
As mentioned above, most hitters are right handed, so the majority of hits will be away from first base. The one fielding skill that's most important for a first baseman is being able to catch or pick throws from other infielders. Every time a ball is put in play, there will always be a runner going from the batter's box to first, so that's where the majority of outs will occur, and the second and third basemen, as well as the shortstop will therefore be throwing to first frequently.
A first baseman is typically someone whose bat is good enough that they need to be in the lineup but whose fielding is not good enough to play elsewhere.
Typical first baseman: Freddie Freeman
Second Base
Your second baseman is generally a good fielder, though not your best. Balls will be hit into the gap between first and second relatively often so they need to be able to field those balls effectively, and to have good range and mobility to cover ground. However, because most hitters will be right handed, ground balls will not come to second as often as they will go to the shortstop.
A second baseman's arm is generally weaker than other positions. The second baseman is halfway between first and second base, so they only need to throw a short distance to either base to get an out.
Typical second baseman: Jonathan India
Third Base
Your third baseman is generally an adequate fielder but, like the first baseman, they are typically in the lineup for their hitting rather than their fielding.
Because most hitters are right handed, the ball will be hit towards third more often than first. Additionally, if the ball is pulled all the way over towards third base or the foul line, it will typically be travelling very quickly. This is why third base is referred to as the 'hot corner', because balls will be coming at you hot. The third baseman therefore needs to be able to react quickly and make catches.
The other unique thing about the third baseman is their arm strength. As mentioned earlier, most outs will be made at first base. Because of his position on the diamond, the third baseman will be the furthest away from first, and therefore needs the strongest arm to zip the ball all the way across the diamond before the runner can reach base.
Because of the strength in their arm, third baseman are also typically power hitters.
Typical third baseman: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop
The shortstop is typically the most athletic and best fielder in the infield. Because most hitters are right handed, the majority of ground balls will be hit between second and third base. The shortstop needs elite quickness, mobility, and range to be able to reach and field these ground balls.
The shortstop should also have a strong arm, though maybe not quite as strong as the third baseman's. Though sometimes they will be making a short throw to second, often they will be required to throw from the shortstop hole directly to first, and these throws will often be made on the run or with unconventional body positioning.
Shortstops make the lineup because of their defensive capabilities, even if they cannot hit. That's why a shortstop that defends the position well and can also hit is one of the most valuable players in the game.
Typical shortstop: Francisco Lindor
Right Field
Like the third baseman, one of the most important things for a right fielder to possess is a strong arm. Right fielders will often be fielding fly balls, which means that there may be a runner trying to tag up to third or even get home on a sacrifice fly. The right fielder needs to be able to throw basically the distance of the entire field from his positions all the way to third base or home plate, so needs a huge arm to get this done. A big armed right fielder can also get the ball to second base quickly to prevent a runner from turning a single into a double.
Right fielders are typically slower and less mobile than other outfielders. They are tucked away in the corner of the outfield and do not have a large area of the field to cover. Like a third baseman, they are typically a big arm and a power bat.
Typical right fielder: Aaron Judge
Centre Field
Alongside the shortstop, the centre fielder is typically one of the best defenders on the field. They have the most ground to cover by far, and need speed and range to get under fly balls and make catches.
Like right fielders, centre fielders will often be making throws to second, third, or home plate so being able to throw accurately over long distances is also relatively important, though less so than other defensive skills.
Like the shortstops, many centre fielders will be in the lineup because of their defensive capabilities. A centre fielder that can defend their position to a high level and also hit is also a superstar.
Typical centre fielder: Mike Trout
Left Field
Left fielders typically do not excel at anything. If they did, they would likely be playing another position. Instead, they are typically simply solid all around players.
Left fielders do not typically have the arm strength of a right fielder. The throws to second, third, or home that are typically made by outfielders are a much shorter distance for the left fielder, given his starting position, so a weaker arm can still get the ball where it needs to be.
Similarly, left fielders do not typically have the range or defensive capabilities of a centre fielder. Like the right fielder, they are tucked away in the corner of the outfield and have less range to cover. If a ball is hit high, it will either be over the wall for a home run, or the left fielder will be able to position himself to catch it. If the ball is hit on the ground, the shortstop or third baseman will generally field the ball before it reaches the outfield.
Left fielders are typically a solid bat in the lineup with no real elite qualities.
Typical left fielder: Jessie Winker
Your typical position players are not all stars. They are players that come in and do the job daily. They have good days and bad days, but it is important to remember that more of the MLB floats around average, not All star caliber, Rookie of the Year, or Mickey Mantle skill set.
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