Second Base Responsibilities: Where the Second Baseman Goes on Every Play

The second baseman is one half of the middle of the infield, and the busiest player on the right side: turning double plays, covering first on bunts, and going out as the relay on balls hit to right.

Most of their jobs depend on where the ball is hit, so the second baseman should know before every pitch where they're going if it's hit to short, to first, or bunted.

The second baseman's main jobs

• On a ground ball to the shortstop with a runner on first, cover second for the force (and the double play).
• On a bunt, cover first. The first baseman is charging.
• On a deep ball to right or right-center, go out as the relay; the shortstop trails behind you.
• On a steal of second, cover or back up: many teams go by the batter, and the middle infielder on the side the batter pulls to stays home.

Every play, and where the second baseman goes

There are 85 plays in the Simple Fielding library. The second baseman covers a base on 47, backs somebody up on 11, trails the relay on 5, is the relay on 5, gets the ball on 3, is the cutoff on 2 and stays ready on the other 12. Tap any play to watch the whole defense move in the app.

Ground balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseGrounder to short, nobody onCover 2nd base.
• Backs upGrounder to 1st — pitcher covers!Back up the first baseman in case the ball gets through.
• Covers a baseDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to shortCover 2nd base for the force — catch it, step on the bag, and throw to 1st for two!
• Gets the ballDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to 2ndGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 2nd for the lead runner.
• Covers a baseRunners on 1st & 2nd, grounder to 3rdCover 2nd base.
• Gets the ballBases loaded — force at homeGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to home for the lead runner.
• Covers a baseRunner on 2nd — look them backCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseTwo outs — take the easy outCover 2nd base.
• Backs upComebacker to the pitcherBack up the throw to 2nd base.

Singles (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseSingle to left, nobody onCover 2nd base — get to the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseSingle to center, nobody onCover 2nd base — get to the bag, ready for the throw.
• CutoffSingle to right, nobody onBe the cutoff! Line up between the right fielder and 2nd base. Arms up and yell "Cut! Cut!"
• Covers a baseSingle to left, runner on 1stCover 2nd base — the batter might try to go there.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, runner on 1stCover 2nd base — the batter might try to go there.
• Covers a baseSingle to left, runner on 2ndCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to center, runner on 2ndCover 1st base — the first baseman is the cutoff.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, runner on 2ndCover 1st base — the first baseman is the cutoff.

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

• Trails the relayDouble down the left-field lineTrail the relay — stand about six big steps behind them in case the throw is off.
• Trails the relayDouble in the left-center gapTrail the relay — stand about six big steps behind them in case the throw is off.
• RelayDouble in the right-center gapBe the relay! Run out toward the ball and line up between the center fielder and 3rd. Arms up and yell "Here!"
• RelayDouble down the right-field lineBe the relay! Run out toward the ball and line up between the right fielder and 3rd. Arms up and yell "Here!"
• Trails the relayDouble to left-center, runner on 1stTrail the relay — stand about six big steps behind them in case the throw is off.
• RelayTriple to the right-field cornerBe the relay! Run out toward the ball and line up between the right fielder and 3rd. Arms up and yell "Here!"

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

• Covers a baseFly ball to left, nobody onCover 2nd base — get to the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseTag up from 3rd — fly to centerCover 1st base — the first baseman is the cutoff.
• Covers a baseTag up from 2nd — fly to rightCover 2nd base — the batter might try to go there.
• Covers a basePop-up behind 2nd — who takes it?Cover 2nd base.
• Covers a basePop-up between 3rd and shortCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseShallow fly — outfielder calls off the infielderCover 2nd base — get to the bag, ready for the throw.

Foul balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseFoul pop near the 1st-base lineCover 1st base — the first baseman is chasing the ball.
• Covers a baseFoul pop near the 3rd-base lineCover 2nd base.

Bunts (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseBunt down the 3rd-base lineCover 1st base on the bunt — the first baseman is charging.
• Covers a baseBunt to the pitcher, runner on 1stCover 1st base on the bunt — the first baseman is charging.
• Covers a baseBunt down the 1st-base lineCover 1st base — the first baseman charged the bunt.
• Covers a baseBunt with a runner on 2ndCover 1st base on the bunt — the first baseman is charging.
• Covers a baseBunt right in front of the plateCover 1st base on the bunt — the first baseman is charging.

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

• Covers a baseSteal of 2nd — right-handed batterCover 2nd! Straddle the bag, catch the throw and tag the runner's foot as they slide in.
• Backs upSteal of 2nd — left-handed batterBack up the throw behind 2nd base.
• Cutoff1st & 3rd double stealCut! Come in front of 2nd base. If the runner on 3rd breaks for home, catch it and throw home. If not, let it go through.
• Backs upPrimary lead — pickoff at 1stShade toward 1st at your depth — stay off the base path, behind the runner.
• Backs upSecondary lead — catcher back-pickCheat toward 1st at your depth to back up the throw — stay off the base path.

Rundowns (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

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

Passed balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a basePassed ball, runner on 3rdCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseWild pitch, runner on 1stCover 2nd base.

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

• Covers a baseSoft slap to the left side — shortstop chargesCover 1st — against a slapper the first baseman is in, so 1st is yours.
• Covers a baseHard slap past the crashing third basemanCover 1st — against a slapper the first baseman is in, so 1st is yours.
• Covers a baseSlap in the hole — shortstop backhandCover 1st — against a slapper the first baseman is in, so 1st is yours.
• Covers a baseDrag bunt by a slapper — first baseman crashesCover 1st base — the first baseman charged the bunt.
• Covers a baseSlap with a runner on 1st — take the sure outCover 1st — against a slapper the first baseman is in, so 1st is yours.
• Covers a baseSacrifice bunt, runners on 1st & 2ndCover 1st base on the bunt — the first baseman is charging.
• Covers a baseSqueeze — take the out at 1stCover 1st base on the bunt — the first baseman is charging.
• Covers a baseBunt, runner on 1st — catcher covers 3rdCover 1st base on the bunt — the first baseman is charging.
• Backs upSteal of 2nd — shortstop coversBack up the throw behind 2nd base.
• Covers a baseCatcher back-pick at 1stAfter the pitch, sneak back to the bag behind the runner. Catch and tag low.
• Backs up1st & 3rd delayed stealBack up the throw to 2nd.
• Backs upDropped 3rd strike — throw to 1st from the insideCheat toward 1st to back up the throw.
• Backs upDropped 3rd strike to the backstop — throw from outsideCheat toward 1st to back up the throw.
• Covers a basePassed ball, runner on 3rd — pitcher covers homeCover 2nd base.

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

• Covers a baseDouble-play depth — 6-4-3Cover 2nd base for the force — catch it, step on the bag, and throw to 1st for two!
• Gets the ballDouble-play depth — 4-6-3Get in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 2nd for the lead runner.
• Covers a base5-4-3 around the hornCover 2nd base for the force — catch it, step on the bag, and throw to 1st for two!
• Covers a baseDeep in the hole at shortCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSlow roller — charge itCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to center, runner on 2nd — play at the plateCover 1st base — the first baseman is the cutoff.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, runner on 1st — 1st to 3rd?Cover 2nd base — the batter might try to go there.
• Covers a baseSingle to left, 1st & 2nd — third baseman cutsCover 2nd base.
• Trails the relayDouble down the left-field line — tandem relayTrail the relay — stand about 20 feet behind them in case the throw is off.
• RelayDouble down the right-field line — tandem relayBe the relay! Run out toward the ball and line up between the right fielder and home. Arms up and yell "Here!"
• Trails the relayGap double, left-center — tandem to 3rdTrail the relay — stand about 20 feet behind them in case the throw is off.
• RelayTriple to the right-center gapBe the relay! Run out toward the ball and line up between the right fielder and 3rd. Arms up and yell "Here!"
• Covers a baseTag from 3rd — medium fly to centerCover 1st base — the first baseman is the cutoff.
• Covers a baseTag from 2nd — fly to rightCover 2nd base — the batter might try to go there.

Quick answers

Who covers second base on a ground ball to the shortstop?

The second baseman. With a runner on first, the shortstop throws to the second baseman at the bag for the force, and the second baseman turns it to first for the double play.

Who covers second on a steal: the shortstop or the second baseman?

It depends on the team's system. Many teams go by the batter: with a right-handed batter, who tends to pull the ball to the left side, the second baseman covers; with a lefty, the shortstop does. The other one backs up.

Where does the second baseman go on a bunt?

To first base. The first baseman charges the bunt, so the second baseman covers the bag.

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.