Baseball Infield Drills to Improve Agility and Footwork

Please login to bookmark

No account yet? Register

Baseball Infield Drills to Become Better at Infielding

Action in the infield happens in the blink of an eye. Once the hitter makes contact, infielders must be quick on their feet and ready to make a play in any direction. With IMG Academy’s How-To baseball infield drills video, coaches give an overview of techniques every infielder should practice.

The central idea here is mastering baseball infielding through focused drills that enhance agility, footwork, and throwing power.

In this video, get introduced to three baseball infielding drills to become a better baseball player. Watch how the student-athlete performs each drill with direction on agility, footwork, and the proper setup for a powerful throw. Each of these three specific infielding drills is broken down to provide instruction on key areas that can impact your game:

Three Cone Fundamentals
Short Hop Attack
Dry Action Cone

Let’s dive deeper into each drill and understand its benefits:

Three Cone Fundamentals

This drill focuses on several critical elements that form the foundation of solid infield play:

Pre-pitch Step: The pre-pitch step is a small, athletic movement that prepares the infielder to react quickly. It ensures that the player isn’t flat-footed when the ball is hit, allowing for faster response times.
Breakdown in the Fielding Position: Proper fielding position involves bending at the knees and maintaining a balanced stance. This allows the infielder to move in any direction with ease and maintain control.
Footwork into First Base: Accurate and efficient footwork is essential for making a quick and accurate throw to first base. The drill emphasizes the steps needed to get the body in the right position for a strong throw.

Short Hop Attack

The short hop is one of the most challenging plays for an infielder. This drill aims to improve the player’s ability to handle it effectively:

Footwork Through the Hop: The drill teaches players how to time their steps so that they can field the ball cleanly as it bounces. Good footwork ensures that the infielder doesn’t get caught off balance.
Realignment of the Body for the Throw: After fielding the ball, it’s crucial to quickly realign the body to make an accurate throw. This involves shuffling the feet and getting the shoulders pointed towards the target.

Dry Action Cone

This drill is designed to improve the infielder’s technique for handling various types of ground balls:

Proper Footwork: The drill emphasizes the specific footwork needed for different ground balls, such as charging slow rollers or backhanding balls hit to the glove side.
Technique for Multiple Types of Ground Balls: The Dry Action Cone drill helps players develop the muscle memory and instincts needed to react correctly to any ball that comes their way.

Elevate Your Infield Game with Targeted Baseball Drills

Mastering these three infielding drills is key to enhancing your agility, footwork, and overall defensive prowess on the baseball field. Whether you’re focusing on the fundamentals, attacking short hops, or perfecting your technique for various ground balls, each drill provides valuable insights and techniques to elevate your game. By consistently practicing these drills, infielders can develop the skills and confidence needed to make game-changing plays and contribute to their team’s success.

Ready to refine your skills on the infield? Press play below to get started!

Unlock Your Baseball Potential with IMG Academy’s Comprehensive Training

For aspiring baseball players looking to take their game to the next level, IMG Academy offers a holistic approach to training and development. Through expert coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and personalized training programs, athletes can maximize their potential and achieve their goals. Whether you’re striving to improve your infield skills, enhance your hitting ability, or refine your pitching mechanics, IMG Academy provides the resources and support needed to succeed in baseball and beyond.

IMG Academy baseball [/boarding-school/athletics/baseball] has created a library of baseball training drills that you can refer back to any time! Check out our other News stories as well as our YouTube channel (@imgacademy[https://youtube.com/IMGAcademy]) for all of our How-To content.