Center Field Responsibilities: Where the Center Fielder Goes on Every Play

The center fielder leads the outfield: they have priority on fly balls, and they move the other outfielders into place.

On plays at second base, the center fielder is the backup: steals, double plays and throws from the left side.

The center fielder's main jobs

• On a fly ball you can reach, call it loud and take it; the corner outfielders back you up.
• On a hit to left or right, back up the outfielder who's getting the ball.
• On a steal of second or a throw to second, charge in behind the bag to back it up.
• On a hit to center, charge the ball and throw it to the cutoff.

Every play, and where the center fielder goes

There are 85 plays in the Simple Fielding library. The center fielder backs somebody up on 52, gets the ball on 8 and stays ready on the other 25. Tap any play to watch the whole defense move in the app.

Ground balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upGrounder to short, nobody onCharge in to back up the shortstop.
• Backs upGrounder to 1st — pitcher covers!Charge in to back up the first baseman.
• Backs upDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to shortRun in and back up the throw to 2nd base.
• Backs upDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to 2ndRun in and back up the throw to 2nd base.
• Backs upRunners on 1st & 2nd, grounder to 3rdCharge in to back up the third baseman.
• Backs upBases loaded — force at homeCharge in to back up the second baseman.
• Backs upRunner on 2nd — look them backCharge in to back up the shortstop.
• Backs upTwo outs — take the easy outCharge in to back up the third baseman.
• Backs upComebacker to the pitcherRun in and back up the throw to 2nd base.

Singles (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upSingle to left, nobody onBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Gets the ballSingle to center, nobody onCharge the ball and get it! Throw it to the cutoff, chest high.
• Backs upSingle to right, nobody onBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upSingle to left, runner on 1stBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upSingle to right, runner on 1stBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upSingle to left, runner on 2ndBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Gets the ballSingle to center, runner on 2ndCharge the ball and get it! Throw it to the cutoff, chest high.
• Backs upSingle to right, runner on 2ndBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.

Doubles & triples (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upDouble down the left-field lineBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Gets the ballDouble in the left-center gapChase the ball down, then throw hard to the relay.
• Gets the ballDouble in the right-center gapChase the ball down, then throw hard to the relay.
• Backs upDouble down the right-field lineBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Gets the ballDouble to left-center, runner on 1stChase the ball down, then throw hard to the relay.
• Backs upTriple to the right-field cornerBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.

Fly balls & pop-ups (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upFly ball to left, nobody onBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Gets the ballTag up from 3rd — fly to centerCall it, and catch it moving forward so your throw is strong. Throw to the cutoff — the runner is tagging up!
• Backs upTag up from 2nd — fly to rightBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upPop-up behind 2nd — who takes it?Come in and back up the shortstop. If you can catch it easily, call them off!
• Backs upShallow fly — outfielder calls off the infielderBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.

Bunts (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upBunt down the 3rd-base lineCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upBunt to the pitcher, runner on 1stCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upBunt down the 1st-base lineCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upBunt with a runner on 2ndCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upBunt right in front of the plateCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.

Steals & leads (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upSteal of 2nd — right-handed batterCharge in to back up the throw to 2nd.
• Backs upSteal of 2nd — left-handed batterCharge in to back up the throw to 2nd.
• Backs up1st & 3rd double stealCharge in to back up 2nd base.

Softball: slaps, bunts & steals (12U fastpitch softball)

• Backs upSoft slap to the left side — shortstop chargesCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upHard slap past the crashing third basemanCharge in to back up the shortstop.
• Backs upSlap in the hole — shortstop backhandCharge in to back up the shortstop.
• Backs upDrag bunt by a slapper — first baseman crashesCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upSlap with a runner on 1st — take the sure outCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upSacrifice bunt, runners on 1st & 2ndCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upSqueeze — take the out at 1stCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upBunt, runner on 1st — catcher covers 3rdCome in and back up 2nd base, in case of a bad throw.
• Backs upSteal of 2nd — shortstop coversCharge in to back up the throw to 2nd.
• Backs up1st & 3rd delayed stealCharge in to back up 2nd.

90 ft: depth, relays and tags (high school baseball, 90 ft bases)

• Backs upDouble-play depth — 6-4-3Run in and back up the throw to 2nd base.
• Backs upDouble-play depth — 4-6-3Run in and back up the throw to 2nd base.
• Backs up5-4-3 around the hornRun in and back up the throw to 2nd base.
• Backs upDeep in the hole at shortCharge in to back up the third baseman.
• Backs upSlow roller — charge itCharge in to back up the pitcher.
• Gets the ballSingle to center, runner on 2nd — play at the plateCharge the ball and get it! Throw it to the cutoff, chest high.
• Backs upSingle to right, runner on 1st — 1st to 3rd?Back up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upSingle to left, 1st & 2nd — third baseman cutsBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upDouble down the left-field line — tandem relayBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upDouble down the right-field line — tandem relayBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upGap double, left-center — tandem to 3rdBack up the left fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Backs upTriple to the right-center gapBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
• Gets the ballTag from 3rd — medium fly to centerCall it, and catch it moving forward so your throw is strong. Throw to the cutoff — the runner is tagging up!
• Backs upTag from 2nd — fly to rightBack up the right fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.

Quick answers

Does the center fielder have priority on fly balls?

Yes. The center fielder has priority over the left and right fielders, and outfielders have priority over infielders on balls they can reach running in. The first clear call wins.

Who backs up second base on a steal?

The center fielder: charge in behind second so a throw that gets through doesn't roll into the outfield.

What does the center fielder do on a hit to left field?

Back up the left fielder, in case the ball gets past them.

Where teams do it differently (who's the cutoff home, who covers second on a steal), these pages follow a common youth system. Your coach's system wins.