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

Third base is the hot corner: the ball gets there fast, so the third baseman needs quick feet and a strong throw across the diamond.

When the ball is hit elsewhere, the third baseman covers third. On a hit to left with a runner trying to score, they're the cutoff for the throw home.

The third baseman's main jobs

• Field hard ground balls and slow rollers on the left side. With runners on first and second, stepping on third is often the quickest out.
• Charge bunts down the third-base line.
• On a single to left with a runner trying to score, be the cutoff for home: in line between the left fielder and the plate.
• On a ball hit elsewhere, cover third base.

Every play, and where the third baseman goes

There are 85 plays in the Simple Fielding library. The third baseman covers a base on 55, gets the ball on 12, is the cutoff on 2 and stays ready on the other 16. 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 3rd base.
• Covers a baseGrounder to 1st — pitcher covers!Cover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to shortCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseDouble play: runner on 1st, grounder to 2ndCover 3rd base.
• Gets the ballRunners on 1st & 2nd, grounder to 3rdGet in front of it, glove down! Then step on 3rd, then throw to 1st for two.
• Covers a baseBases loaded — force at homeCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseRunner on 2nd — look them backCover 3rd base.
• Gets the ballTwo outs — take the easy outGet in front of it, glove down! Then step on 3rd.
• Covers a baseComebacker to the pitcherCover 3rd base.

Singles (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseSingle to left, nobody onGo hard after it — it gets by you! Don't stay down: get up and cover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to center, nobody onCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, nobody onCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to left, runner on 1stGo hard after it — it gets by you! Don't stay down: get up and cover 3rd base — the throw is coming here.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, runner on 1stCover 3rd base — the throw is coming here.
• CutoffSingle to left, runner on 2ndGo hard after it — it gets by you! Don't stay down: get up and be the cutoff for home — line up just in front of the pitcher's mound, in a straight line between the ball and home. Listen for the catcher!
• Covers a baseSingle to center, runner on 2ndCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, runner on 2ndCover 3rd base.

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

• Covers a baseDouble down the left-field lineCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseDouble in the left-center gapCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseDouble in the right-center gapCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseDouble down the right-field lineCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseDouble to left-center, runner on 1stCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseTriple to the right-field cornerCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.

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

• Covers a baseFly ball to left, nobody onCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseTag up from 3rd — fly to centerCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseTag up from 2nd — fly to rightCover 3rd base — the throw is coming here.
• Covers a basePop-up behind 2nd — who takes it?Cover 3rd base.
• Covers a basePop-up between 3rd and shortCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseShallow fly — outfielder calls off the infielderCover 3rd base.

Foul balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Covers a baseFoul pop behind the plateCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseFoul pop near the 1st-base lineCover 3rd base.
• Gets the ballFoul pop near the 3rd-base lineChase it — watch out for the fence! Catch it if you can do it safely.

Bunts (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Gets the ballBunt down the 3rd-base lineCharge it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Gets the ballBunt with a runner on 2ndCharge it, glove down! Look the runner back, then throw to 1st.

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

• Covers a baseSteal of 3rdCover 3rd! Catch the throw and tag the runner.
• Covers a base1st & 3rd double stealStay on 3rd and yell "Four! Four!" if the runner breaks for home.

Rundowns (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

• Gets the ballRundown between 2nd and 3rdBall up where your teammate can see it. Run hard at the runner and drive them back toward 2nd. When the shortstop yells "Now!", one firm chest-high throw. Then get out of the lane.
• Covers a baseRundown between 3rd and homeStep off the bag toward the runner, glove up as a target. Yell "Now!" when they're close, catch it and tag.

Passed balls (Little League baseball, 60 ft bases)

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

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

• Gets the ballSoft slap to the left side — shortstop chargesGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Covers a baseHard slap past the crashing third basemanCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseSlap in the hole — shortstop backhandCover 3rd base.
• Gets the ballSlap with a runner on 1st — take the sure outGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Gets the ballSacrifice bunt, runners on 1st & 2ndCharge it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Gets the ballBunt, runner on 1st — catcher covers 3rdCharge it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Covers a baseSteal of 3rdCover 3rd! Catch the throw and tag the runner.
• Covers a baseCatcher back-pick at 3rdGet to the bag behind the runner. Catch and tag low.
• Covers a baseLook-back — runner off 3rd goes straight backGet to 3rd base in case the pitcher needs to throw.
• Covers a baseLook-back — runner off 3rd stops: out by ruleGet to 3rd base in case the pitcher needs to throw.
• Covers a baseLook-back — runner on 3rd breaks for homeGet to 3rd base in case the pitcher needs to throw.
• Covers a baseLook-back, 1st & 3rd — runner drifts off 1stStay on 3rd — the runner there is what the pitcher is watching.
• Covers a base1st & 3rd delayed stealStay on 3rd and keep that runner close.
• Covers a basePassed ball, runner on 3rd — pitcher covers homeCover 3rd base.

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

• Covers a baseDouble-play depth — 6-4-3Cover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseDouble-play depth — 4-6-3Cover 3rd base.
• Gets the ball5-4-3 around the hornGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 2nd for the lead runner.
• Gets the ballDeep in the hole at shortGet in front of it, glove down! Then throw to 1st.
• Covers a baseSlow roller — charge itCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to center, runner on 2nd — play at the plateCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseSingle to right, runner on 1st — 1st to 3rd?Cover 3rd base — the throw is coming here.
• CutoffSingle to left, 1st & 2nd — third baseman cutsGo hard after it — it gets by you! Don't stay down: get up and be the cutoff for home — line up about 45 feet in front of the plate, between the ball and home. Listen for the catcher!
• Covers a baseDouble down the left-field line — tandem relayCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseDouble down the right-field line — tandem relayCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseGap double, left-center — tandem to 3rdCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseTriple to the right-center gapCover 3rd base — straddle the bag, ready for the throw.
• Covers a baseTag from 3rd — medium fly to centerCover 3rd base.
• Covers a baseTag from 2nd — fly to rightCover 3rd base — the throw is coming here.
• Covers a basePop-up in the triangle — 1B, 2B, RFCover 3rd base.

Quick answers

Who is the cutoff on a throw home from left field?

The third baseman, in a common youth system: they line up between the left fielder and home plate. From center and right, it's usually the first baseman.

Should the third baseman charge a bunt?

Yes, on a bunt down the third-base line. With a runner on second, the third baseman may need to stay near the bag so the runner can't take third; the pitcher fields that bunt instead.

Who covers third base on a steal of third?

The third baseman, with the left fielder backing up behind 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.