Simple FieldingLeft Field Responsibilities: Where the Left Fielder Goes on Every Play
Where the left fielder goes on every play: charging ground balls, hitting the cutoff, and backing up third base and the infield. For youth baseball and softball.
In youth baseball, more balls are hit to left field than anywhere else in the outfield, because most young hitters are right-handed and pull the ball.
When the ball isn't hit to them, the left fielder is still moving: backing up third, or backing up the infielder on their side.
The left fielder's main jobs
- On a hit to left, charge the ball, get it, and throw it to the cutoff chest-high. Don't hold it.
- On a ground ball to the left side of the infield, charge in to back up the fielder.
- On a throw to third (a steal of third, a runner going first to third), back up third base.
- Let the center fielder take fly balls between you: the center fielder has priority.
Every play, and where the left fielder goes
There are 85 plays in the Simple Fielding library. The left fielder backs somebody up on 48, gets the ball on 9 and stays ready on the other 28. 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!Come in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to shortCharge in to back up the shortstop.
- Backs upDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to 2ndCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upRunners on 1st & 2nd, grounder to 3rdRun in and back up the throw to 3rd base.
- Backs upBases loaded — force at homeCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upRunner on 2nd — look them backCharge in to back up the shortstop.
- Backs upTwo outs — take the easy outRun in and back up the throw to 3rd base.
- Backs upComebacker to the pitcherCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
Singles (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)
- Gets the ballSingle to left, nobody onCharge the ball and get it! Throw it to the cutoff, chest high.
- Backs upSingle to center, nobody onBack up the center fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
- Backs upSingle to right, nobody onRun in and back up 2nd base in case the throw gets away.
- Gets the ballSingle to left, runner on 1stCharge the ball and get it! Throw it to the cutoff, chest high.
- Backs upSingle to right, runner on 1stRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Gets the ballSingle to left, runner on 2ndCharge the ball and get it! Throw it to the cutoff, chest high.
- Backs upSingle to center, runner on 2ndRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Backs upSingle to right, runner on 2ndRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
Doubles & triples (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)
- Gets the ballDouble down the left-field lineChase the ball down, then throw hard to the relay.
- Backs upDouble in the left-center gapBack up the center fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
- Backs upDouble in the right-center gapRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Backs upDouble down the right-field lineRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Backs upDouble to left-center, runner on 1stBack up the center fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
- Backs upTriple to the right-field cornerRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
Fly balls & pop-ups (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)
- Gets the ballFly ball to left, nobody onCall it — "I got it!" — catch it, then throw to the cutoff right away.
- Backs upTag up from 3rd — fly to centerRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Backs upTag up from 2nd — fly to rightRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Gets the ballShallow fly — outfielder calls off the infielderCall it — "I got it!" — catch it, then throw to the cutoff right away.
Bunts (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)
- Backs upBunt down the 3rd-base lineCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upBunt to the pitcher, runner on 1stCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upBunt down the 1st-base lineCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upBunt with a runner on 2ndCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upBunt right in front of the plateCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
Steals & leads (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)
Softball: slaps, bunts & steals (12U fastpitch softball)
- Backs upSoft slap to the left side — shortstop chargesCome in and back up 3rd 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 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upSlap with a runner on 1st — take the sure outCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upSacrifice bunt, runners on 1st & 2ndCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upSqueeze — take the out at 1stCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upBunt, runner on 1st — catcher covers 3rdCome in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs upSteal of 3rdCharge in to back up the throw to 3rd.
- Backs upCatcher back-pick at 3rdCharge in to back up the throw to 3rd.
90 ft: depth, relays and tags (high school baseball, 90 ft bases)
- Backs upDouble-play depth — 6-4-3Charge in to back up the shortstop.
- Backs upDouble-play depth — 4-6-3Come in and back up 3rd base, in case of a bad throw.
- Backs up5-4-3 around the hornCharge in to back up the third baseman.
- 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.
- Backs upSingle to center, runner on 2nd — play at the plateBack up the center fielder — get behind them in case the ball gets by.
- Backs upSingle to right, runner on 1st — 1st to 3rd?Run in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Gets the ballSingle to left, 1st & 2nd — third baseman cutsCharge the ball and get it! Throw it to the cutoff, chest high.
- Gets the ballDouble down the left-field line — tandem relayChase the ball down, then throw hard to the relay.
- Backs upDouble down the right-field line — tandem relayRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Gets the ballGap double, left-center — tandem to 3rdChase the ball down, then throw hard to the relay.
- Backs upTriple to the right-center gapRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Backs upTag from 3rd — medium fly to centerRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
- Backs upTag from 2nd — fly to rightRun in and back up 3rd base in case the throw gets away.
Quick answers
- Where does the left fielder throw the ball?
- To the cutoff, usually the shortstop or the third baseman, chest-high. Throwing through the cutoff gets the ball back to the infield fastest, and the cutoff can redirect it.
- Who backs up third base?
- The left fielder, on throws to third. On a throw home, the pitcher backs up the catcher.
- Who takes a fly ball between left and center field?
- The center fielder has priority over the corner outfielders. The first clear call wins; if the center fielder calls it, the left fielder backs them up.
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.