Learn the Game

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Do you want to stand out from the other high school players across the country? Here’s one of the ways to do it – Learn the Game!

I’m not talking about learning the rulebook (though that is a good idea as well) and I don’t mean that you need to read books about Abner Doubleday and study the history of baseball (also good knowledge to have). What you need to do is learn about every situation that may arise during a game and know your responsibilities in each situation as well as the responsibilities of your teammates. A young player who is always in the right position and can anticipate the next play in each situation really stands out to college recruiters and professional scouts.

The best way to learn these things is to watch Major League Baseball games whenever possible. It is ideal if you can watch games in person at the stadium, because you are not limited to only seeing what is on the TV screen. Study the players playing your position. If you are a catcher, study everything that the catchers do. Even watch one of them in the dugout between innings. He is likely talking to the pitcher, pitching coach or both. If you play the outfield, bear down on those players. Watch how they communicate with each other when they change their positioning for certain hitters. Watch them react on a batted ball to the other side of the field. They are not involved in that part of the play, but are most likely moving into a position to back-up a throw.

Let’s look at one “learning the game” situation that consistently presents a problem to high school players at a certain position. Here’s the situation: 1 out, runner on second base and the hitter singles to right field. Everyone on the field has a job during this play – let’s briefly look at each player’s responsibility:

RF: Field the ball cleanly and make an accurate throw through the cut-off man.
1B: Cut-off man.
C: Line-up the first baseman, catch the ball and make the tag or communicate on a cut-off.
SS: Cover second base in case of a play.
3B: Cover third base in case of a play.
LF: Get into position to back-up a potential throw from the cut-off man or catcher to third base.
CF: Initially move to back-up the right fielder. When he fields the ball cleanly, move to back-up a potential throw from the cut-off man or catcher to second base.
P: Back-up home plate.

Now for the problem position on this play: 2B

The second baseman must cover first base. If the base runner from 2nd scores, the first baseman cuts the ball off and the hitter takes a wide turn at first base, the second baseman must be there to take a throw behind the runner from the first baseman. This can be an extremely valuable out! It just takes the second baseman immediately knowing where he needs to be and hustling to get into proper position. In nearly ten years of running Player Development events for Baseball Factory, I can count the number of second baseman who have done this properly (before being told) on one hand. That includes game situations and basic pre-game infield/outfield at all events.

This situation and others like it may seem simple when written out, but the amateur players who react properly to all game situations, make scouts and recruiters take notice. They are the ones that are labeled with tags like “good instincts,” or “always in the right place at the right time,” or “high baseball IQ,” or “student of the game.” Scouts and college coaches trust those players. My advice to you is to watch more high-level baseball games and become one of the few amateur players who have learned the game. You’ll separate yourself from the pack by doing it.

Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.