A Complete Guide to Baseball Positions on the Field

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Learn where all players are on the field and their roles on the team

Co-authored by Isaac Hess and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: May 23, 2026 Fact Checked

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Field Positions

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Offense Positions

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Field Position Numbers

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FAQs

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Baseball is one of the most popular sports, but learning all the players on the field may get a little confusing if you’re not familiar with the positions. Whether you’re watching your first game or just want a deeper look into what each player does, we’ll break down all the field positions for you. Keep reading, and we’ll cover the duties of each position as well as their numbers if you’re keeping score. Plus, we’ll even cover some of the offense positions you may see on the batting team!

Baseball Field Position Diagram

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An illustration of a baseball field marked with the names and locations of defensive fielding positions.

There are 9 defensive field positions on a baseball field. Players in the infield include catcher, pitcher, first base, second base, third base, and shortstop. Players in the outfield include left field, center field, and right field.

Section 1 of 4:

Baseball Fielding Positions

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1
Pitcher (P) The pitcher stands on the mound in the center of the infield, and it’s their job to throw the ball towards the batter and catcher. Pitchers try their best to strike out the batter and prevent them from hitting runs by throwing a variety of pitches, like fastballs and curveballs.^{[1]
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- Pitchers are usually categorized into starters who begin the game, relief pitchers who take over in the middle of the game, and closers who finish the game in the final inning.
- Notable players: Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Cy Young^{[2]
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Catcher (C) The catcher stands behind home plate, and it’s their responsibility to catch the ball from the pitcher if the batter doesn’t hit it. They’re the only player on the field wearing a face mask and chest protector to protect themselves from wild pitches. The catcher also communicates to the pitcher about what type of pitch to use, throws to prevent stolen bases, and protects home plate from runs.^{[3]
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- Notable players: Buster Posey, Mike Piazza, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra^{[4]
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First Base (1B) The first baseman stands in the infield next to first base. It’s their duty to field any ground balls toward right field and tag the first base to get a runner out. The first base player usually stands a little off the base, but they stand closer if there’s a runner so they’re able to tag them out.^{[5]
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- Notable players: Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial^{[6]
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Second Base (2B) The second baseman usually stands between first and second base, and they try to stop ground balls hit up the center of the field. When there are runners on the field, the second base player stays closer to the base so they can tag out runners and set up double plays.^{[7]
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- Notable players: Robinson Cano, Roberto Alomar, Joe Morgan, Jackie Robinson, Roger Hornsby^{[8]
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Third Base (3B) The third baseman usually stands a few steps off of the third base, and they try to stop ground balls and line drives toward left field. Third base players usually have a strong arm so they can throw runners out at first. When there’s a runner at third, the third base player stays closer to the base to prevent them from stealing home.^{[9]
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- Notable players: Adrián Beltré, Mike Schmidt, Chipper Jones, Wade Boggs, Paul Molitor^{[10]
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Shortstop (SS) The shortstop stands in the infield between second and third base, and they’re one of the most important defensive players. They prevent ground balls and short fly balls hit between the bases, but they also cover second base if the second basemen has to step off to make a catch.^{[11]
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- Notable players: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Robin Yount, Ernie Banks, Cal Ripken Jr.^{[12]
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Left Fielder (LF) The left fielder stands in the left side of the outfield, and it’s their duty to cover ground balls that make it past the infielders and field deep fly balls. Left fielders need strong arms to make the throw to the infielders to prevent runs from being scored.^{[13]
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- Notable players: Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, Rickey Henderson, Pete Rose, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson^{[14]
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Center Fielder (CF) The center fielder covers the largest middle section of the outfield behind second base. They’re often running and fielding during every hit to defensively cover the field, and often throw to second, third, and home base to get runners out. They may play closer to the infield for weak batters or closer to the back fence for strong hitters to prevent home runs.^{[15]
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- Notable players: Ken Griffey Jr., Joe DiMaggio, Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays^{[16]
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Right Fielder (RF) The right fielder covers the right side of the outfield, and they catch fly balls hit to the right or ground balls that pass between the basemen. Right fielders normally throw the ball back to first base to force an out. They also may move up closer to first base when the ball is hit towards third for extra coverage.^{[17]
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- Notable players: Ichiro Suzuki, Mookie Betts, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson^{[18]
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Section 2 of 4:

Baseball Offense Positions

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The leadoff hitter isn’t an official position, but they’re the first player in the batting order for the offense. Leadoff hitters are usually chosen because they’re able to make contact with the ball and easily get on base. They are also some of the fastest players so they have the opportunity to steal bases and score.^{[19]
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Designated Hitter (DH) A designated hitter bats instead of the pitcher, and is sometimes considered the tenth player in the batting order. Whenever the pitcher is supposed to be at bat, the designated hitter takes their place to hit and run for them instead.^{[20]
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- Only one designated hitter can be used during the game, and they have to be chosen before the game starts.
A pinch hitter replaces one of the players in the batting order during the middle of the inning and bats in their place. Teams usually sub in a pinch hitter when they’re switching out a pitcher next inning or trying to gain the upper hand. The original player is out for the rest of the game, and the pinch hitter can either play a fielding position or be substituted for another player when the inning switches.^{[21]
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Pinch Runner (PR) A pinch runner takes the place of any player after they hit the ball and runs the bases for them. Pinch runners are not part of the batting order, and they can only be used once per inning. Usually, a team uses a pinch runner when they want someone who’s able to run faster or steal bases easily.^{[22]
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- Players who are active in the current batting order are not allowed to be pinch runners.

Section 3 of 4:

Baseball Field Position Numbers

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Field positions are numbered 1-9 on a baseball scorecard. When you’re keeping score of a baseball game, the fielding players are numbered so it’s easy to reference who caught the ball or made a play. For example, if a right fielder caught the ball and threw it to first base for a double play, you would write “9-3 double play.” The numbers for each fielder are:^{[23]
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- 1: Pitcher
- 2: Catcher
- 3: First base
- 4: Second base
- 5: Third base
- 6: Shortstop
- 7: Left fielder
- 8: Center fielder
- 9: Right fielder

Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions: Baseball Positions

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What are the different sections of the field called? The infield is the square area contained by the 4 bases, and it’s where players will make ground plays and tag players or bases. The outfield is the large grassy area past the bases where fielders catch fly balls, prevent home runs, and throw the ball to infielders.^{[24]
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- Sometimes, the pitcher and catcher are called the battery.
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What is the hardest position to play in baseball? The catcher is considered one of the most difficult positions because they have to stay focused for every pitch. It’s their responsibility to communicate with the pitcher, catch pitches, watch for stolen bases, field bunts, and protect home plate from runs, so the position can be really demanding.^{[25]
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- Some people say that the shortstop is also one of the hardest positions because they have to defend a large section of the infield and react quickly to line drives.
- Center field is one of the toughest positions in the outfield because they cover the largest section of the field and often have to jump or dive to make a catch.
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Do baseball players play multiple positions? Many players can switch between fielding positions, except for the pitcher and catcher. Baseball coach and instructor Isaac Hess states that players should learn and be confident playing in any positions. He says, “If you tell me you only play second base, your options are the bench or second base.”^{[26]
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Isaac Hess
Baseball Coach & Instructor

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Why is shortstop #6 on a scorecard? The shortstop used to be #5 on a scorecard because it was based on the player’s location on the field. At some point in the late 1800s to early 1900s, scorecards switched the shortstop to #6. It’s unclear why the change was made, but it’s most likely to keep the basemen grouped together.^{[27]
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