Tips for First Baseman

Why First Base is Harder Than It Looks

First base appears passive — the fielder just stands there and catches throws. In reality, proper first base technique involves precise footwork, split-second decision-making, and the confidence to stretch without hesitation.

A first baseman who can't hold close plays or dig throws out of the dirt costs your pitcher earned runs. A great first baseman saves 5+ errors per season for an average infield.

Footwork — The Base Touch

The correct footwork at first base depends entirely on where the throw is coming from. Practice all three patterns before the season starts.

• Ball thrown to the glove side: left foot touches the base, right foot stretches toward the throw
• Ball thrown to the throwing side: right foot on base, left foot stretches across the body
• Ball in the dirt: foot stays on base until the ball is glove — don't bail early
• Drill: coach stands at SS/2B/3B, throws one ball to each corner and in the dirt. 1B works the footwork on every throw.
• Key: the foot touches the base before the stretch. Don't stretch first and then find the base.

Receiving Short-Hops

The ability to dig a short-hop throw out of the dirt is what separates good first basemen from great ones. This requires trust in your glove and practice.

• Keep eyes on the ball all the way into the glove — do not look up early
• Glove angle: turn the glove palm-up on a short-hop, fingers pointed down
• Body stays square to the throw — no turning away
• Drill: partner throws 10 bounced balls in a row from 45 feet. 1B digs every one.
• The hard part: don't flinch. A ball in the dirt won't seriously hurt a fielder in proper gear. Trust your glove.

Holding Runners and Fielding

When there's a runner on first, the first baseman has responsibilities before and after every pitch — not just when the ball is hit to them.

• Holding position: right foot on the edge of the bag, glove gives the pitcher a target
• When pitcher throws home: release the bag and slide to fielding-ready position
• Ground ball to the right: charge, field, flip to pitcher covering first (pitcher must run!)
• Ground ball to the left: field, step on bag if time allows, or flip to covering pitcher
• Pop-ups: "mine" calls apply — 1B has priority over 2B on pop-ups in fair territory near the bag

Tips for First Baseman

Footwork, stretching, and receiving — the most important fundamentals for first base.

Related Resources

Access your team roster, lineups, and player stats in the coach portal.