Shortstop Responsibilities: Where the Shortstop Goes on Every Play

The shortstop gets more ground balls than anyone and has the longest throw across the infield. They're also the infield's leader: saying the outs, reminding everyone where the play is, and taking charge on pop-ups.

When the ball isn't hit to them, the shortstop is almost always going somewhere: covering second or third, or out into the outfield as the relay.

The shortstop's main jobs

• Field ground balls on the left side, and take the lead runner when there's time.
• On a ground ball to the second baseman with a runner on first, cover second for the force.
• On a deep ball to left or left-center, go out as the relay, in line with the throw; on a ball to right, trail behind the second baseman.
• Before every pitch, say the outs and where the play is. On pop-ups between infielders, the shortstop has priority over the corners.

Every play, and where the shortstop goes

There are 85 plays in the Simple Fielding library. The shortstop covers a base on 39, gets the ball on 9, is the cutoff on 9, backs somebody up on 8, is the relay on 5, trails the relay on 5 and stays ready on the other 10. Tap any play to watch the whole defense move in the app.

Ground balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Gets the ballGrounder to short, nobody onGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Covers a baseGrounder to 1st — pitcher covers!Cover 2nd base.
• Gets the ballDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to shortGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 2nd for the lead runner.
• Covers a baseDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to 2ndCover 2nd base for the force — catch it, step on the bag, and throw to 1st for two!
• Covers a baseRunners on 1st & 2nd, grounder to 3rdCover 3rd base — the third baseman came in for the ball.
• Covers a baseBases loaded — force at homeCover 2nd base.
• Gets the ballRunner on 2nd — look them backGet in front of it, glove down! Look the runner back, then throw to 1st.
• Covers a baseTwo outs — take the easy outCover 3rd base — the third baseman came in for the ball.
• Covers a baseComebacker to the pitcherCover 2nd base for the force — catch it, step on the bag, and throw to 1st for two!

Singles (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• CutoffSingle to left, nobody onBe the cutoff! Line up between the left fielder and 2nd base. Arms up and yell "Cut! Cut!"
• CutoffSingle to center, nobody onBe the cutoff! Line up between the center fielder and 2nd base. Arms up and yell "Cut! Cut!"
• Covers a baseSingle to right, nobody onCover 2nd base — get to the bag, ready for the throw.
• CutoffSingle to left, runner on 1stBe the cutoff! Line up between the left fielder and 3rd base. Arms up and yell!
• CutoffSingle to right, runner on 1stBe the cutoff! Line up between the right fielder and 3rd base. Arms up and yell!
• Covers a baseSingle to left, runner on 2ndCover 3rd base — the third baseman is the cutoff.
• Covers a baseSingle to center, runner on 2ndCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, runner on 2ndCover 2nd base.

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

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

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

• CutoffFly ball to left, nobody onBe the cutoff! Line up between the left fielder and 2nd base. Arms up and yell "Cut! Cut!"
• Covers a baseTag up from 3rd — fly to centerCover 2nd base.
• CutoffTag up from 2nd — fly to rightBe the cutoff! Line up between the right fielder and 3rd base. Arms up and yell!
• Gets the ballPop-up behind 2nd — who takes it?Call it — "I got it! I got it!" — and catch it above your head with two hands.
• Gets the ballPop-up between 3rd and shortCall it — "I got it! I got it!" — and catch it above your head with two hands.
• CutoffShallow fly — outfielder calls off the infielderBe the cutoff! Line up between the left fielder and 2nd base. Arms up and yell "Cut! Cut!"

Foul balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

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

Bunts (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseBunt down the 3rd-base lineCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseBunt to the pitcher, runner on 1stCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseBunt down the 1st-base lineCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseBunt with a runner on 2ndCover 3rd base — the third baseman might charge the bunt.
• Covers a baseBunt right in front of the plateCover 2nd base.

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

• Backs upSteal of 2nd — right-handed batterBack up the throw behind 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSteal of 2nd — left-handed batterCover 2nd! Straddle the bag, catch the throw and tag the runner's foot as they slide in.
• Covers a baseSteal of 3rdCover 2nd base behind the runner.
• Covers a base1st & 3rd double stealCover 2nd base, ready to tag the runner coming from 1st.

Rundowns (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Gets the ballRundown between 1st and 2ndBall up where your teammate can see it. Run hard at the runner and drive them back toward 1st. When the first baseman yells "Now!", one firm chest-high throw. Then get out of the lane.
• Covers a baseRundown between 2nd and 3rdStep off the bag toward the runner, glove up as a target. Yell "Now!" when they're close, catch it and tag.
• Backs upRundown between 3rd and homeBack up 3rd behind the fielder there.

Passed balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Backs upPassed ball, runner on 3rdBack up 2nd base.
• Backs upWild pitch, runner on 1stBack up 2nd base.

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

• Covers a baseSoft slap to the left side — shortstop chargesCover 2nd base.
• Gets the ballHard slap past the crashing third basemanGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Gets the ballSlap in the hole — shortstop backhandGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Covers a baseDrag bunt by a slapper — first baseman crashesCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSlap with a runner on 1st — take the sure outCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSacrifice bunt, runners on 1st & 2ndCover 3rd base — the third baseman might charge the bunt.
• Covers a baseSqueeze — take the out at 1stCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseBunt, runner on 1st — catcher covers 3rdCover 2nd base.
• Covers a baseSteal of 2nd — shortstop coversCover 2nd! Straddle the bag, catch the throw and tag the runner's foot as they slide in.
• Covers a baseSteal of 3rdCover 2nd base behind the runner.
• Covers a baseCatcher back-pick at 3rdCover 2nd base.
• Backs upLook-back — runner on 3rd breaks for homeBack up 3rd in case she turns back into a rundown.
• Covers a base1st & 3rd delayed stealCover 2nd when the runner on 1st breaks. Catch and tag.
• Backs upPassed ball, runner on 3rd — pitcher covers homeBack up 2nd base.

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

• Gets the ballDouble-play depth — 6-4-3Get in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 2nd for the lead runner.
• Covers a baseDouble-play depth — 4-6-3Cover 2nd base for the force — catch it, step on the bag, and throw to 1st for two!
• Covers a base5-4-3 around the hornCover 3rd base — the third baseman came in for the ball.
• Backs upDeep in the hole at shortBack up the third baseman in case the ball gets through.
• Backs upSlow roller — charge itBack up the pitcher in case the ball gets through.
• Covers a baseSingle to center, runner on 2nd — play at the plateCover 2nd base.
• CutoffSingle to right, runner on 1st — 1st to 3rd?Be the cutoff! Line up between the right fielder and 3rd base. Arms up and yell!
• Covers a baseSingle to left, 1st & 2nd — third baseman cutsCover 3rd base — the third baseman is the cutoff.
• RelayDouble down the left-field line — tandem relayBe the relay! Run out toward the ball and line up between the left fielder and home. Arms up and yell "Here!"
• Trails the relayDouble down the right-field line — tandem relayTrail the relay — stand about 20 feet behind them in case the throw is off.
• RelayGap double, left-center — tandem to 3rdBe the relay! Run out toward the ball and line up between the left fielder and 3rd. Arms up and yell "Here!"
• Trails the relayTriple to the right-center gapTrail the relay — stand about 20 feet behind them in case the throw is off.
• Covers a baseTag from 3rd — medium fly to centerCover 2nd base.
• CutoffTag from 2nd — fly to rightBe the cutoff! Line up between the right fielder and 3rd base. Arms up and yell!
• Covers a basePop-up in the triangle — 1B, 2B, RFCover 2nd base.

Quick answers

What does the shortstop do on a single to left field?

In a common youth system, the shortstop goes out as the cutoff toward left field, lined up between the ball and second base, so the left fielder has a close target. The throw comes back in through them.

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

The shortstop. With a runner on first, the second baseman throws to the shortstop covering the bag for the force.

Why is the shortstop the infield leader?

The shortstop can see the whole infield and is involved in most plays, so they call the outs before each pitch, remind everyone where the throw goes, and take charge on pop-ups in the middle of the field.

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.