An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball , farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder , the center fielder , and the right fielder . As an outfielder, their duty is to catch fly balls and ground balls then to return them to the infield for the out or before the runner advances, if there are any runners on the bases . As an outfielder, they normally play behind the six players located in the field. By convention, each of the nine defensive positions in baseball is numbered. The outfield positions are 7 (left field), 8 (center field) and 9 (right field). These numbers are shorthand designations useful in baseball scorekeeping and are not necessarily the same as the squad numbers worn on player uniforms.
16-544: Samuel Leech Maskrey (February 11, 1854 – April 1, 1922) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball . He played five seasons in the majors, from 1882 to 1886, for the Louisville Eclipse/Colonels and Cincinnati Red Stockings . His brother, Harry Maskrey , was his teammate on the 1882 Eclipse. After spending the 1887 to 1889 seasons playing minor league baseball , Maskrey
32-425: A center fielder . Corner outfielders are often slower and have less defensive value than the center fielder . However, there are some important differences between right fielders and left fielders . Right fielders tend to have the best throwing arms of the outfield so they can make the long throw to third base, but often are not as fast as left fielders. Center fielders are generally the fastest and most athletic of
48-465: A left-handed pitcher, if one player's performance is better against certain types of pitchers. Within MLB, César Tovar , Cookie Rojas , Bert Campaneris , Shane Halter , Don Kelly , Jose Oquendo Scott Sheldon , and Andrew Romine all played every position (including pitcher ) during their respective careers, with Tovar, Campaneris, Halter, Sheldon, and Romine all doing it in one game. In 1991,
64-452: Is a player who has the ability to play more than one position in the field and is primarily used as a substitute. The term super utility player may be used to refer to a player who can play all or most positions, or a player who regularly appears in the starting lineup at different positions. Utility infielders typically play both second base and shortstop , sometimes also third base , and more rarely first base . A "fourth outfielder"
80-625: Is likewise an outfielder who can play all three outfield positions but does not have the hitting skills to be a starting player. Some utility players have the defensive ability to play in both the infield and outfield—recent players in Major League Baseball (MLB) fitting this description include Marwin González , Brock Holt , Cory Spangenberg , and Ben Zobrist . Playing time for fourth outfielders has been called "erratic and unpredictable". Often, fourth outfielders are outfield prospects who have not settled on one outfield position when arriving in
96-462: Is often considered the most difficult outfield position, requiring both a good throwing arm and speed. Center fielders on many teams often bat lead off . Players who do not routinely start games, but often substitute as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement in the outfield are referred to as fourth outfielders or even fifth outfielders . These players can usually play any of the three outfield positions. Corner outfielders are outfielders who play
112-649: The Detroit Tigers ' Tony Phillips was the first player to start 10 games at five different positions in the same season. In 2005, Chone Figgins started 48 games at third, 45 in center field and 36 at second, and finished 17th in American League Most Valuable Player balloting. Second baseman Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs has played first base, second base, third base, shortstop and outfield; José Bautista of
128-647: The Toronto Blue Jays has played first base, second base, third base, and outfield; and Josh Harrison of the Pittsburgh Pirates has played second base, shortstop, third base, outfield, and pitcher. All three have been named All Stars while playing multiple positions in their All-Star seasons. Zobrist and Bautista both finished in the top 10 in MVP voting while starting at least 40 games at two different defensive positions. In 2015, Brock Holt of
144-969: The U.S. minor leagues in 1891, where he played for the Tacoma team in the Pacific Northwestern League . After spending the 1892 season with the Atlanta Firecrackers of the Southern Association , part of which he spent as a player-manager, he retired and went into the hotel business with his brother Harry. Outfielder Outfielders named to the MLB All-Century Team are Hank Aaron , Ty Cobb , Joe DiMaggio , Mickey Mantle , Willie Mays , Stan Musial , Pete Rose , Babe Ruth , Ted Williams , Carl Yastrzemski , and Ken Griffey Jr. Players can be characterized as either corner outfielders or
160-521: The corner positions of right field and left field . Corner outfielders often have less speed than center fielders , but make up for this deficiency with their offensive play. The main differences between left and right fielders are, first, that left fielders handle more chances because right-handed pull hitters tend to hit balls to left; second, that right fielders typically have stronger arms; third, that right fielders are frequently (not always) slower and less agile defensively. Many left fielders have had
176-459: The existing players (whose primary game was usually soccer ). Spalding sent a skilled manager, Jim Hart , along with players Maskrey, William J. Barr, Charles Bartlett, and J. E. Prior. Maskrey was the only one of the players who had played in the majors to that point, and he stayed there for one season as a player-manager of Preston North End . Following his time in England, Maskrey returned to
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#1732800958853192-399: The major leagues, veteran players seeking additional playing time to extend their careers, or part-time position players who double as designated hitters . Often, the fourth outfielder can be used in a platoon system against certain pitchers; for example, one outfielder will play only when the starting pitcher is a right-handed pitcher and the other plays only when the starting pitcher is
208-546: The pitcher behind their back to determine the pitch and tell where the ball could possibly be hit to. Many of the best power hitters in baseball play in the outfield , where they do not have as constant involvement in fielding plays as other positions, especially before the institution of the designated hitter . For example, Babe Ruth was moved from pitcher to the outfield. Left fielders and right fielders are more often slow power hitters, and center fielders are usually fast base-runners and good defensive players. Center field
224-431: The speed to play center field, but have lacked the throwing ability required. An example of an ultra-fast left fielder is Rickey Henderson ( Ben Oglivie and Lou Brock can fit this description too), whereas the slow-footed but very strong-armed Carl Furillo , "The Reading Rifle", sets a standard for right fielders in the terms specified here. Fourth outfielder In baseball , a utility player or utility man
240-407: The three, because they have to run the farthest in order to field balls in the gaps and back up the other outfielders when balls are hit to them. Outfielders should also be able to read where the ball may be placed based on what the pitcher is throwing. They can tell what the pitcher is throwing by the middle infielders, second base and short stop, in which they show the numbers the catcher is giving to
256-481: Was part of a contingent sent to England in 1890 by Albert Spalding at the behest of the newly-formed professional National League of Baseball of Great Britain . He was signed by Preston North End Baseball Club as player-coach and was club captain. This organization had sent a letter to the American Spalding requesting help in establishing a league. They requested eight to ten players to coach and convert
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