3 different tags that every infielder should know how to do! Tags are a small part of the game, but can change an entire outcome by getting good at the little details.
1) Straight Down: Let ball travel, get the glove working above the ball allowing you to have the glove action moving down at the time that you catch. Opposed from staying in one place to catch then moving afterwards.
2) Backhand: when the throw is left of bag, young fielders will try to wait off or catch a forehand, then scramble back to the bag. Instead hold your ground, turn it into a backhand catch and get the glove action moving back towards the runner as you catch!
3) Left foot attack: when the throw takes you back down the line, were trying to attack ball with our left foot. This allows us to stay out of the baseline to avoid injury or a collision. When we catch with the left foot attack, the goal is to simply catch a piece of the runner. A Foot, leg, calf, or even just the jersey. Swipe the tag while you’re still moving, no need to catch and try to stop momentum.
Try these three, get comfortable with them! #PryorDevelopment
ROUTINE GROUND BALL: It doesn’t matter how athletic you are, what great plays you make, or what tools you have, if you can’t make the routine play, you will have a hard time staying in the infield. No pitcher wants to be busting their butt to get a ground ball hit straight at you, just for you to boot it! The routine ground ball NEEDS to be an out. #PryorDevelopment
SS Double Plays: Step near the bag with the right, past the bag with the left as you catch. Right hand stays underneath the ball vs side by side of the glove. Drag the right toe to swipe the base as you replace the feet and throw! #PryorDevelopment
Timing + direction = efficient reaction. Players looking to increase their first step quickness as well as their overall range, timing of when you land is the one controllable that can be worked on. Your reaction time in the first split seconds of when the ball is hit can all be determined by WHEN you land from your pre-pitch movement. When we land “on time”, it allows us to continue to move, when we land early, our feet get stuck and we have to create momentum again which takes longer to do. Find the timing, increase your reaction time. #PryorDevelopment
2B Double Plays: Although I’m not a fan of backhanding a ball hit straight at you or to your left, I can see how it gets the hips cheated towards 2B just a little earlier, so i can see how some people can get comfortable with it. Regardless, When going through your double play turns, control is the most important aspect. Feet stay under the hips and never get too far outside the body. Mix up the move you use, same lane ground ball but different speed can call for a different move. #PryorDevelopment
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STOP WORRYING ABOUT FOOTWORK! We have gotten to a point in the infield world where we have created lab rats to move a specific way instead of letting them be athletic with their footwork. Being able to have the mindset of attack while being athletic is the only thing that matters! Coaches and young players are so wrapped up in “Looking” a certain way, they start to stunt their ability to simply Go get the Baseball! I saw this video of @chaarliebates.7 and my eyes got big! 👀 It’s great seeing a player use their athleticism and pace control to create the hop they want to catch in order to give the “Smooth” look!
Athlete>Footwork
#PryorDevelopment
🎥 @youthprospects
1B Picks and Receiving: Here’s a progression I use with more advanced first basemen. The main goal we focus on is having the confidence to go attack ball, good timing with the feet, catching ball at extension with the glove, while eyes are still behind. First basemen get in trouble when their eyes start to leave before ball is caught. #PryorDevelopment
🤔🤔🤔 Got to watch this one!
Very interesting! I haven’t seen this in person yet but I am very interested to see how this works over the course of the season. Definitely have some valid points, especially when talking about playing catch. I would also love to see the spacing he continues to backhand when moving to his left. It looks like he moves left and still backhands a liiiitle bit, but im interested to see how far left while still backhanding a ball he really goes. All some really cool information!
Love the post @analyticswithchris
Last week I went to AZ and brought out some studs to help me film an online infield program that I can hopefully release towards the end of summer to the public! Trying to talk about almost EVERYTHING I know about infield, in front of a camera was definitely not as easy as I thought it was going to be. Im excited to be able to do this project with my friends @double.zee and @kelly.zlatic We surprisingly didn’t kill each other, might have gotten annoyed a few times but hey 🤷🏾♂️. It was an amazing trip and I just want to say thank you to everyone that was around to make it happen! The Infield Blueprint will be coming this year, hope everyone is ready! #PryorDevelopment
Special thank you to my wife for watching the kids for almost a week! 😬
ONE HAND: Corner positions don’t have the luxury of being able to have as much time or be able create as many angles as middle positions can. For that reason, it’s JUST FINE to get comfortable using one hand at those positions. Many times it helps player react freely and react to late action. Being able to catch one handed also requires being able to throw efficiently out of the position you catch it in. Challenge yourself to see if you can catch everything with one hand but still have the timing you need to get the ball to your target from wherever you catch! #PryorDevelopment
FREEZE CATCH: If you have a player that tends to catch the ball behind them, or seems like they aren’t in control at the time they catch. This drills forces the player to slow down and control where they are catching the ball in relationship to their body, as well as controlling the low point of the catch. Too many player try to leave and get momentum to first base BEFORE they have the ball. Thinking about momentum to 1B without the ball is like trying to drive a car without the keys. #PryorDevelopment
