How to Impress Coaches at Baseball Tryouts for Outfield

Some people might think the only skill a baseball outfielder needs is the ability to catch fly balls. However, playing the three outfield positions involves much more than just fielding pop-ups. Outfielders must exhibit strong, accurate arms for throwing, the ability to cover a vast area and the baseball awareness to know where to be in every situation. Outfielders looking to impress coaches at a tryout will need to show they are well-rounded and excel in all facets of the positions.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball glove
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Instructions

    • 1

      Show the ability to make the routine play. A large portion of balls hit to outfielders are in the air. At a tryout, coaches will no doubt test your catching skills. Outfielders who cannot catch routine fly balls are liabilities and will struggle to make the team.

    • 2

      Display your skill at tracking fly balls hit in front of you and behind you. Catching on the run is a crucial skill held by the best outfielders. Coaches have a favorable view of outfielders who can read a ball off the bat and track it both with their eyes and legs. Balls hit in front of you may require a dive, while deep fly balls may force you to leap in order to make the catch.

    • 3

      Keep every ball hit your way in front of you. Whether you are playing left field, right field or center field, your primary objective on any ball hit to you is to keep it from going past you. This includes hard-hit ground balls, line drives and pop flies. This may not always be possible, but the best outfielders prevent balls from getting past them and keep opposing base runners from advancing.

    • 4

      Make strong, accurate throws to the proper base or cutoff man. Throwing off line, overshooting a cutoff man or throwing to the wrong base is frowned upon by coaches and results in opponents moving up extra bases. Your job as an outfielder is to get the ball back to the infield as quickly as possible and make the correct throw. This might involve trying to throw out a runner, but sometimes the best throw goes to a cutoff man who can make an easier throw to the necessary base.

    • 5

      Back up the proper base or throw. Outfielders are required to back up bases so that errant throws are corralled and runners are stopped from advancing. All outfielders have backup assignments. Typically, a left fielder backs up throws to third base, a center fielder backs up second base and a right fielder backs up first base.

    • 6

      Be attentive and follow coaching instructions. This goes for all baseball players at a tryout, but outfielders need to be especially alert because instructions may be harder to hear in the outfield.

    • 7

      Display your hitting skills in batting practice. All types of hitters can be found in the outfield, including slap hitters who rely on speed, line-drive hitters who primarily hit singles and doubles and power hitters who can hit home runs. Whatever your skill set consists of, show your coach what you do well at the plate.