Skills Needed to Play Center Field

An old baseball adage says that a team is only as good as how strong they are up the middle. This includes the catcher, second baseman, shortstop and center fielder. The center fielder is similar to a field general out on the playing field. He directs play handling by the left and right fielders and sometimes even for the infielders as well because, except in rare cases, the play is always in font of him. Good footwork, reading the flight of the ball, being able to catch the ball and having a strong accurate arm are the most important skills a center fielder can have.

  1. Fancy Footwork

    • Knowing where to stand for a particular batter and how long it takes for you to cover ground in the outfield are important kernels of knowledge for a center fielder to develop. Most center fielders tend to be fast but speed is not always enough to be able to catch some fly balls. Knowing when to run forward and when to backpedal will allow a center fielder to catch more balls, while learning to take the shortest route to the ball will make a center fielder's job that much easier. Outfielders are always going to be faster on their feet than off of them, so knowing when to dive for a ball is a skill that must be developed, too. Throwing the ball requires proper footwork, too, as most throws the center fielder makes will be done using the one-step approach.

    Following the Ball's Flight

    • Learning how to react when a ball is hit will help the center fielder get to more balls. Watching the spin created when certain pitches are hit will help a center fielder learn whether a ball will be coming right at him or slicing away from him. Learning how to play wall caroms will help a center fielder keep singles from turning into doubles, doubles into triples and triples into inside-the-park home runs. Developing the ability to see the ball in varying conditions will help a center fielder as well. The ability to pick up a ball against a cloudless sunny sky is much different than a foggy, low cloud backdrop.

    Glove Work

    • Positioning your body properly for catching fly balls is a key skill to develop. Routine fly balls should always be caught with two hands -- slightly above the head and in front of the throwing shoulder. Balls that are falling in front of a center fielder require the glove's webbing be parallel to the ground with the web open wide to increase the chances of snaring the ball before it hits the ground. Conversely, catching baseballs that are going over the center fielder's head require the webbing to be facing away from home plate and the glove just in front of the center fielder's face so he can look the ball into the glove.

    Throwing the Ball

    • Releasing the ball quickly, with good velocity and accurately, is another critical skill for a center fielder to develop. Some plays that a center fielder makes will be from the deepest part of the ballpark, so being able to catch and throw in one smooth motion, whether hitting the cut-off man or trying to cut down a runner on the base paths, will increase a center fielder's value to his team. Learning to throw the ball so that it gets to its target on one hop is a skill that should be practiced often. In most cases, a center fielder will not be able to get a throw to a teammate covering a base or home plate on the fly, so learning to throw a one-hop strike can bring more innings to an end and keep his pitcher's earned run average down.