Pitcher Responsibilities on Defense: Where the Pitcher Goes on Every Play

Once the ball leaves their hand, the pitcher becomes the fifth infielder. The best youth pitchers know that throwing strikes is only half the job.

The pitcher's defensive work comes down to three habits: field what's hit back to you, run to first on anything to the right side, and back up the base the throw is going to.

The pitcher's main jobs

• Field comebackers and bunts in front of the mound, then throw to the base the catcher calls.
• On a ground ball to the right side, run toward first right away. If the first baseman fields it, cover the base: run to a spot a few steps up the line, then turn and run along it to the bag.
• On a passed ball or wild pitch with a runner on third, sprint in and cover home.
• On a hit to the outfield, back up the base the throw is going to: third, or behind the catcher on a throw home.

Every play, and where the pitcher goes

There are 85 plays in the Simple Fielding library. The pitcher backs somebody up on 33, gets the ball on 10, covers a base on 7 and stays ready on the other 35. Tap any play to watch the whole defense move in the app.

Ground balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseGrounder to 1st — pitcher covers!Ball hit to your left? Run to 1st! Get to the baseline a few steps short of the bag, run up the INSIDE of the line, and take the throw on the inside of the bag.
• Backs upRunners on 1st & 2nd, grounder to 3rdBack up 3rd.
• Backs upTwo outs — take the easy outBack up 3rd.
• Gets the ballComebacker to the pitcherGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 2nd for the lead runner.

Singles (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upSingle to left, nobody onBack up 2nd base — get behind the bag in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to center, nobody onGo hard after it — it gets by you! Don't stay down: get up and back up 2nd base — get behind the bag in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to right, nobody onBack up 2nd base — get behind the bag in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to left, runner on 1stBack up 3rd base — run behind the bag in foul territory, in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to right, runner on 1stBack up 3rd base — run behind the bag in foul territory, in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to left, runner on 2ndBack up home plate — get behind the catcher, in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to center, runner on 2ndGo hard after it — it gets by you! Don't stay down: get up and back up home plate — get behind the catcher, in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to right, runner on 2ndBack up home plate — get behind the catcher, in line with the throw.

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

• Backs upDouble down the left-field lineBack up 3rd base — get behind it, in line with the throw.
• Backs upDouble in the left-center gapBack up 3rd base — get behind it, in line with the throw.
• Backs upDouble in the right-center gapBack up 3rd base — get behind it, in line with the throw.
• Backs upDouble down the right-field lineBack up 3rd base — get behind it, in line with the throw.
• Backs upDouble to left-center, runner on 1stRun halfway between 3rd and home, see where the throw goes, then back up home plate.
• Backs upTriple to the right-field cornerBack up 3rd base — get behind it, in line with the throw.

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

• Backs upFly ball to left, nobody onBack up 2nd base — get behind the bag in line with the throw.
• Backs upTag up from 3rd — fly to centerBack up home plate — get behind the catcher, in line with the throw.
• Backs upTag up from 2nd — fly to rightBack up 3rd base — run behind the bag in foul territory, in line with the throw.
• Backs upShallow fly — outfielder calls off the infielderBack up 2nd base — get behind the bag in line with the throw.

Foul balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseFoul pop behind the plateThe catcher left home — sprint in and cover home plate!
• Covers a baseFoul pop near the 1st-base lineCover home plate while the catcher helps.
• Covers a baseFoul pop near the 3rd-base lineCover home plate while the catcher helps.

Bunts (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Gets the ballBunt to the pitcher, runner on 1stCharge it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.

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

• Backs up1st & 3rd double stealDuck out of the throw, then circle around the 1st-base side to back up home. Never cross in front of the plate.
• Gets the ballPrimary lead — pickoff at 1stFrom the stretch: look at the runner. Step toward 1st and throw over — the first baseman is holding the runner on.

Rundowns (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upRundown between 1st and 2ndBack up 1st behind the fielder there.
• Backs upRundown between 2nd and 3rdBack up 3rd in case the runner turns around and the ball comes back.
• Backs upRundown between 3rd and homeBack up home in case the runner turns around and the ball comes back.

Passed balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a basePassed ball, runner on 3rdSprint to home plate! Point where the ball is and yell for the catcher. Set up in front of the plate and leave the runner a path to the back of it. Catch it, then sweep the tag down.
• Covers a baseWild pitch, runner on 1stSprint to home plate! Point where the ball is and yell for the catcher. Set up in front of the plate and leave the runner a path to the back of it. Catch it, then sweep the tag down.

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

• Gets the ballSqueeze — take the out at 1stCharge it, glove down! Look the runner back, then throw to 1st.
• Gets the ballLook-back — runner off 3rd goes straight backBall in the circle: face the runner and HOLD the ball. Don't fake a throw (in college a fake frees her); make her go back or go.
• Gets the ballLook-back — runner off 3rd stops: out by ruleBall in the circle: face the runner and HOLD the ball. Don't fake a throw (in college a fake frees her); make her go back or go. If she stops and freezes, don't throw: the umpire calls her out.
• Gets the ballLook-back — runner on 3rd breaks for homeShe broke! Throw home right away — a firm throw to the catcher's glove side.
• Gets the ballLook-back, 1st & 3rd — runner drifts off 1stRun right at her with the ball — but keep your eyes on the runner on 3rd. Make her commit; don't throw unless 3rd is covered and that runner is back.
• Gets the ball1st & 3rd delayed stealCatch it and look at the runner on 3rd first. If she's back, throw to 2nd; if she's off, run at her.
• Covers a basePassed ball, runner on 3rd — pitcher covers homeSprint to home plate! Point where the ball is and yell for the catcher. Set up in front of the plate and leave the runner a path to the back of it. Catch it, then sweep the tag down.

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

• Gets the ballSlow roller — charge itGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Backs upSingle to center, runner on 2nd — play at the plateGo hard after it — it gets by you! Don't stay down: get up and back up home plate — get behind the catcher, in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to right, runner on 1st — 1st to 3rd?Back up 3rd base — run behind the bag in foul territory, in line with the throw.
• Backs upSingle to left, 1st & 2nd — third baseman cutsBack up home plate — get behind the catcher, in line with the throw.
• Backs upDouble down the left-field line — tandem relayRun halfway between 3rd and home, see where the throw goes, then back up home plate.
• Backs upDouble down the right-field line — tandem relayRun halfway between 3rd and home, see where the throw goes, then back up home plate.
• Backs upGap double, left-center — tandem to 3rdBack up 3rd base — get behind it, in line with the throw.
• Backs upTriple to the right-center gapBack up 3rd base — get behind it, in line with the throw.
• Backs upTag from 3rd — medium fly to centerBack up home plate — get behind the catcher, in line with the throw.
• Backs upTag from 2nd — fly to rightBack up 3rd base — run behind the bag in foul territory, in line with the throw.

Quick answers

Does the pitcher cover first base?

Yes, on any ball hit to the right side of the infield. The pitcher breaks toward first on contact. If the first baseman fields the ball, the pitcher covers the bag and takes the throw.

Where does the pitcher go on a hit to the outfield?

Behind the base the throw is going to. On a throw home, the pitcher backs up the catcher. On a throw to third, the pitcher backs up third. If it isn't clear yet, go halfway between third and home and read the throw.

Who covers home on a passed ball?

The pitcher. The catcher chases the ball and the pitcher sprints in to cover the plate.

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.