Coaching guide
Youth baseball positions explained
There are nine fielding positions in baseball. Here's what each one does, the numbers you'll see on a scorecard, and how to rotate kids through them fairly in a youth league.
The 9 positions and their numbers
On a scorecard, each position has a number 1 through 9. That's why a double play might be written "6-4-3" (shortstop to second base to first base).
| # | Position | Area | What they do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pitcher (P) | Battery | Throws to the batter; fields balls hit up the middle. The most demanding position. |
| 2 | Catcher (C) | Battery | Receives pitches, guards home plate, and directs the defense. Hard work in the gear. |
| 3 | First base (1B) | Infield | Takes throws for outs at first; needs sure hands more than a strong arm. |
| 4 | Second base (2B) | Infield | Covers the right side of the infield and turns double plays. Lots of action in youth ball. |
| 5 | Third base (3B) | Infield | The 'hot corner', needs quick reactions and the strongest infield arm. |
| 6 | Shortstop (SS) | Infield | Covers the left side and the most ground; usually your most athletic fielder. |
| 7 | Left field (LF) | Outfield | Handles balls hit to the left; a common spot for developing fielders. |
| 8 | Center field (CF) | Outfield | Covers the most outfield ground and backs up the others. Needs speed. |
| 9 | Right field (RF) | Outfield | Handles the right side; sees fewer balls in young leagues but needs the longest throw. |
Infield vs. outfield
The battery is the pitcher and catcher. The infield is first, second, third, and shortstop. The outfield is left, center, and right. In youth ball most of the action is in the infield and up the middle, so those spots see the most chances.
The 10th player (youth leagues)
Lots of youth leagues field 10 players instead of 9, adding a fourth outfielder or a "short fielder" (sometimes called a rover) behind the infield. It's a simple way to get more kids real innings.
Rotate positions fairly
The demanding spots (pitcher, catcher, shortstop, center field) tend to go to a few strong players by default. Over a season, deliberately rotate kids through the infield and outfield and give everyone a turn at the spots they want. That's the heart of fair coaching, and it's hard to track by memory. See how to build a fair youth baseball lineup, or grab the free lineup card to map positions by inning.
Questions
What are the 9 positions in baseball?
Pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, and right field. In scorekeeping they're numbered 1 through 9 in that order.
What do the position numbers (1-9) mean?
They're a shorthand for scorekeeping: 1 pitcher, 2 catcher, 3 first base, 4 second base, 5 third base, 6 shortstop, 7 left field, 8 center field, 9 right field. A 6-4-3 double play means shortstop to second to first.
Which positions are hardest for young players?
Pitcher, catcher, shortstop, and center field demand the most. In youth ball it's best to rotate kids through them over the season rather than letting one or two players own them.
How many players are on the field in youth baseball?
Standard baseball uses 9 fielders. Many youth leagues use 10, adding a fourth outfielder or a 'short fielder' (rover) to get more kids involved.