Title
Infielder practices fielding ground balls and short hops at first base from both kneeling and standing positions to develop receiving technique.
Compilation
If this video stacks several distinct drills back-to-back, split it into individual, draggable drills — each with its own clip, steps, and tags.
Coach's take
Great for building: Soft hands, glove-to-ball timing on short hops, and athletic receiving skills for throws in the dirt.
Builds toward Consistently picking difficult throws in the dirt at first base, preventing errors and turning close plays into outs.
What it is
A first baseman works ground ball fielding in two positions: kneeling and standing. The drill focuses on the hands-down fielding posture and glove presentation to catch short hops and hard-hit ground balls. Reps build consistency in scooping and securing balls across the body at the bag.
What it practices
Develops soft hands and glove control for short-hop reads and ground ball reception. Builds footwork stability and body positioning around first base for both feeding and stretch plays.
Focuses on improving
Targets first basemen who struggle with short-hop mechanics, errant throws from infielders, or inconsistent receiving technique on low bounces. Strengthens the fundamental catch-and-turn at first in game-speed conditions.
How to run it
Perform 3-5 reps for each side (forehand, direct, backhand) from the kneeling position, then repeat 3-5 reps for each side from the standing position. Run the drill for 5-10 minutes.Setup
- 1Place 5-10 baseballs near the feeder.
- 2The player and feeder should be 5-10 feet apart.
- 3The player starts by kneeling with their glove ready.
Run the drill
- 1Feeder rolls or tosses a short hop to the player's forehand side.
- 2Player picks the ball with soft hands, leading with the glove.
- 3Player fields the ball directly in front with soft hands.
- 4Feeder rolls or tosses a short hop to the player's backhand side.
- 5Player picks the ball with soft hands.
- 6After completing kneeling reps, the player stands in an athletic fielding stance with knees bent and glove out.
- 7Repeat the forehand, direct, and backhand short hop picks from the standing position.
Coaching cues
- Soft hands.
- Glove down early.
- Let the ball enter the glove.
- Read the hop.
- Work through the ball.
- Stay low to the ground.
Common mistakes
- Stabbing at the ball instead of letting it come into the glove.
- Bringing the glove up too early, causing missed low hops.
- Not getting the body low enough, especially on backhand picks.
- Not using two hands on balls directly in front when appropriate.
Progressions
- Increase the distance between the feeder and the player.
- Increase the speed of the tossed balls.
- Vary the type of hop (softer vs. harder bounces).
- Introduce a second ball immediately after the first pick to simulate rapid fire throws.
Coach notes
transcript
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