US Sports Baseball: Two Drills to Improve Outfield Movement and Communication and Nationals vs. Rockies Game 2 Highlights

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• By Grant Young

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While it may seem that playing in the outfield is one of the most relaxed positions in baseball, coaches know the truth is that the outfield demands a high level of communication, precise movement, and acute awareness. This is why outfield drills are so important. 

One of the main challenges for outfielders is the need to effectively communicate with each other. In many situations, multiple outfielders can converge on a fly ball, and without clear communication, collisions can occur. This risk not only poses a danger to the players involved but can also lead to missed plays that could change the outcome of a game. 

Establishing a system of verbal and non-verbal cues is essential for ensuring that each player knows who is responsible for making the catch. Drills that focus on improving vocal communication and instilling confidence in one another can transform a group of individuals into a cohesive unit.

Additionally, the movement required in the outfield is far from straightforward. It involves not only running but also quick direction changes, timing jumps for catches, and assessing batted balls’ trajectories. Outfielders need to have a keen sense of positioning, understanding the hitters’ tendencies, and knowing when to take aggressive routes to the ball. 

Practicing shifts, angles, and the art of the jump can give a team a significant advantage. Drills designed to simulate different game scenarios can help players develop these critical skills, allowing them to react instinctively during actual games. 

By implementing targeted drills that enhance these skills, teams can minimize the risk of errors and elevate their overall performance, turning what is perceived as an easy position into one of the greatest strengths of the team.

While there are plenty of effective outfield drills out there, few focus on developing the communication and movement patterns necessary to ensure safety and success for players of all ages and skill levels. But coach Todd Dulin, Head Coach at North Andover High School (Massachusetts), provides an in-depth, structured approach to mastering defensive excellence in baseball, specifically in the outfield with his ‘Outfield Play with Todd Dulin’ clinic. 

Whether you're an aspiring outfielder or a coach seeking expert drills and strategies, this course provides the knowledge and structure to elevate defensive skills and build a championship-caliber mentality.

We have pulled two drills from Coach Dulin’s clinic and included them below. 

The Rhythm Drill

One of Coach Dulin’s drills is called the Rhythm Drill, a fundamental exercise to develop smooth, controlled, and accurate outfield throws while preserving arm strength. 

The movement and footwork involved in fielding a grounder in the outfield and then executing a strong and accurate throw to a specific base may sound easy, but coaches know that it can often be much more difficult than initially conceived. 

 

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This is why this simple rhythm drill is perfect, which starts with a coach having a bucket of balls, a fungo, and standing at home plate. The players will line up in two lines in the outfield, and the coach will just hit balls to each line. 

Each player will then take turns fielding the ground ball while ensuring they remain on the balls of their feet so they don’t get off balance. From there, they will stay in an athletic stance, execute a crop hop, and deliver a throw to the assigned base, which will have a screen behind it. 

By repeating this drill with a steady rhythm, outfielders enhance their throwing mechanics, reinforce good habits, and prepare for game-like situations with precision and efficiency. 

Another way to improve this drill is by hitting the ball between the two lines and forcing them to communicate on who is going to field the ball and which base they should throw to. 

The Sprinkler Drill

The next drill that Coach Dulin discusses in his clinic is what he calls the sprinker drill, which is a dynamic outfield exercise designed to improve tracking, catching on the move, and communication. 

The drill begins with all the outfielders along the right field like, and the coach has a bucket and a fungo. The player who’s first in line will then start jogging across the outfield while fielding multiple fly balls, progressively moving toward left field with each ball hit.

A great way to enhance communication with this drill is to make two different lines and hit the ball either between them or behind them, so that they have to run near the fence. This will force the two players in line to communicate about who is catching the ball and where the ball is while also tracking down the fly ball. 

This drill is especially effective early in the season, when players haven’t learned each other’s communication preferences and are still acclimating to tracking balls down on the fly. 

This drill is also fun and engaging, while also working as a conditioning exercise because of all the running that players will need to do.

US Sports Baseball Feat. Four Quotes to Hit Better With Two-Strikes and Cardinals vs. Red Sox Game 2 Highlights

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• By Grant Young

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Any baseball hitting approach coach can empathize with the fact that hitting with two strikes is exceedingly difficult for several reasons:

1. Psychological Pressure: When a batter has two strikes against them, the pressure intensifies. They know that one more mistake could lead to an automatic out, which can lead to anxiety and affect their focus and decision-making. 

2. Pitcher’s Advantage: With two strikes, the pitcher has a greater advantage since they can throw a wider variety of pitches to try to induce a swing-and-miss. They often employ breaking balls or off-speed pitches that can catch hitters off guard. 

3. Swing Adjustments: Batters may feel compelled to shorten their swing or alter their approach to make contact, which can compromise their usual mechanics. This can lead to hitting the ball poorly or missing it altogether. 

4. Zone Awareness: With two strikes, batters have to be more discerning about the pitches they swing at. This heightened sense of caution can lead to hesitant swings or missed opportunities on pitches that are in the strike zone but not necessarily ideal for hitting. 

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5. Increased Focus: The need to focus intensifies with two strikes, as batters must anticipate the pitcher's next move while also adjusting to the potential of getting struck out. This heightened focus can be a double-edged sword; while it can help in making better decisions, it can also lead to tension. 

These factors combine to make hitting with two strikes a difficult task, requiring not just skill but also mental resilience and adaptability. However, while nothing will keep hitters from being at a disadvantage with two strikes, having a solid hitting approach in these situations can help balance the odds. 

Brandon Matthews is a professional hitting instructor in North Carolina. Coach Matthews has almost 20 years of coaching experience at all levels from youth to professional baseball. In 2017, he started Swing Angry LLC for baseball and softball hitting instruction. Since then, Coach Matthews has performed thousands of lessons with youth to professional hitters.

In his ‘2 Strike Hitting: Approach, Philosophy, & Strategy’ course, Coach Matthews will teach you some unique strategies and game plans for handling 2 strike situations, such as controlling the at-bat before there are two strikes, how to remain aggressive, and diving deeper inside the data of pitch counts to help hitters better understand when the odds are more in their favor. We’ve pulled some of Coach Matthews’ best wisdom and included it for you below. 

Hunt In The Zone

Coach Matthews asserts that most coaches will say that they want their hitters to expand the strike zone with two strikes so that there’s less of a chance that they’ll strike out. 

To dispute this, he drops a quote from baseball legend Ted Williams, who said, “Giving the pitcher an extra two inches around the strike zone makes it 35% larger. Make sure you get a good ball to hit.” 

Coach Matthews backs this point up by conveying that trying to avoid the strikeout isn’t the be-all-end-all when it comes to a two-strike approach. This is because if you swing at a bad pitch that’s not in the strike zone just so you aren’t called out on strikes, you’re still almost certainly going to be out. Not to mention that umpires (less skilled ones) are typically hesitant to call someone on strikes anyway.

“Everything in life happens twice: the first time in your mind and the second time in reality,” Coach Matthews goes on to say. What he means by this is that if a hitter’s approach is to expand the zone with two strikes, they’re already telling themselves that they’re going to chase something out of the strike zone and be content with weak contact. 

 

Plus, this is going to make it much harder for a hitter to shut down their swing and not trigger to chase a breaking ball in the dirt or some other two-strike pitch that a hitter might see. 

The bottom line is that if the hitter doesn’t chase with two strikes, the pitcher will still need to make a quality pitch in the strike zone to get the hitter out. Understanding this will increase the chances a hitter makes hard contact with a two-strike pitch. 

External vs Internal

“When we get to a two-strike situation, if you can pick out an area of the field… if you can have an external goal to hit the ball hard somewhere on that [opposite field] area, it gives you some adjustable timing,” Coach Matthews said. 

What he means by this is that preparing to hit the ball up the middle or to the opposite field will naturally make the hitter stay back on the ball more. This will not only make them less susceptible to chasing breaking balls in the dirt, but it will give them a bit more time to react and try to foul off a fastball or another pitch they weren’t expecting. 

Coach Matthews also adds that if a team has enough data on what an opposing pitcher likes to do with two strikes, they can hunt specific zones and sometimes hunt specific pitches if a pitcher is disposed toward one pitch with two strikes. 

“We can be adjustable in the hitting zone, and we can be adjustable in the strike zone.” 

In other words, a hitter doesn’t have to tighten up or be prepared to chase as soon as they get to two strikes. They can relax, prepare to wait on the ball, and hit it the other way.

US Sports Baseball: Keys For Scoring More With Runners on First and Third Base and Dodgers vs. Cubs Tokyo Series Game Highlights

 

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Keys For Scoring More With Runners on First and Third Base

• By Grant Young

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Few baseball game situations can have more of an impact on winning than how an offense executes with runners on first and third base. 

One reason why is that having a runner on third base with less than two outs places immense pressure on the opposing defense. Teams are forced to make quick decisions on plays, which can lead to errors or miscommunications. This scenario also garners attention from the pitcher, who becomes more focused on the baserunners rather than executing pitches effectively, often leading to mistakes. 

Not to mention that scoring with runners on the corners can open up strategic options for coaching staff. By successfully scoring, teams can have more flexibility with their lineup choices, using speedsters as pinch runners or aggressive base running tactics. It also frees them from worrying about maintaining a close game and allows for more risk-taking, which can lead to even more runs. 

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A team that can consistently bring in runs from first and third base has a better chance of winning close games. This ability can translate to favorable standings, potential playoff berths, and may even define the competitive nature of the season in tight divisions. 

All of this is another way of saying that a team that adeptly scores with runners on first and third not only enhances their chances of winning individual games but can shift the overall outlook of their season.

But being aggressive in these situations is risky, and can cost runs (and therefore games) if coaches are reckless or don’t understand the best ways of maximizing success in these make-or-break scenarios. 

This is where Steve Healy comes in. 

Coach Steve Healy is the head coach of the BC High varsity baseball team, a role he has held since the 2022 season. It hasn’t taken him long to produce success, as he guided the Eagles to a 20-5 record in 2024, which resulted in the 2024 Division 1 Massachusetts State Championship. In his three seasons with BC High, Coach Healy has produced a 51-20 overall record. 

Coach Healy’s ‘1st - 3rd Offensive Strategies with Steve Healy’ course dives deep into the art of creating scoring opportunities when runners are on first and third base, covering a wide range of tactics, from fundamental plays that will emphasize situational awareness, teaching viewers how to read pitchers, catchers, and infielders to maximize offensive potential. We’ve pulled some crucial tips from his clinic and included them below. 

Pitching Matchups and Defensive IQ

Coach Healy explains that the most important factor to consider when deciding whether to run a play with runners on first and third is what pitcher is on the mound for both your team and their team. 

When it comes to your team, it might only take a few runs to win if your ace is on the mound. Therefore, it makes more sense to try to steal one run in a first and third situation early in a game compared to a game where you might need to put up multiple crooked numbers in order to compete. 

In addition, if the opposing pitcher is an ace, teams might have to scratch and claw to get any runs across. So when any opportunity presents itself, teams would be wise to take advantage. 

It’s also important to consider the entire opposing infield and catcher. Are these all experienced guys, or are they freshman or more inexperienced up the middle? Have they played together for a long time? How athletic is the first baseman, and can they execute a strong and accurate throw to home in a pinch if need be? Is the first baseman a lefty, which makes for a more awkward and slower throw home when receiving a throw from the pitcher or from second base?

These are all questions and scenarios that a coach should know when deciding whether to put a first and third play in place. 

Safety Squeeze: When to Play it Safe (And When Not To)

When deciding whether to execute a safety squeeze in a first and third scenario, a coach needs to keep in mind when in the game they are and how many runs they need. 

If they’re up a couple runs late in the game and want some added insurance, a safety squeeze is a great option. If it’s early in the game and you’re already down by four, you should test your luck with a timely hit.

In addition, Coach Healy discusses how the difference between being safe and out at home plate during a safety squeeze is the runner’s feet. 

The entire time, the baserunner on third needs to be anticipating seeing that ball get bunted, which will prompt them to head home. But they also need to be gaining ground with their feet down the line. 

Of course, there’s a fine balance with this, because they can’t have too much forward momentum to the point where the catcher can back-pick them if the bunt isn’t laid down, but they need to be able to score if the bunt is executed, even if it isn’t perfect. 

Coach Healy also discusses how the runner on first needs to be aware of what’s happening. If safety squeeze fails and the runner on third gets caught in a rundown, they should be making an effort to get to third base before the runner is tagged out (especially if there are no outs in the inning).

US Sports Baseball: Two Tips For Developing an Elite Baseball Bullpen and North Alabama vs #1 LSU (G3) | 2025 College Baseball Highlights

 

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• By Grant Young

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Developing a formidable pitcher’s bullpen is not just important; it is a cornerstone of a team’s success. 

A reliable group of relievers can protect fragile leads, turn the tide in tightly contested games, and be the difference between victory and defeat. However, cultivating this essential unit is fraught with challenges that demand astute management and keen insight. 

One of the most pressing issues in building a successful bullpen is the inherent unpredictability of relievers. Unlike starting pitchers, who benefit from a structured routine and the luxury of pacing themselves over several innings, relievers face a relentless, high-pressure environment. Their performance can fluctuate dramatically based on fatigue, psychological pressure, and the specific matchups they encounter. This inconsistency can make it exceedingly difficult to depend on any given reliever, especially in a high-stakes situation. 

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Injuries also loom as a significant hurdle. Relievers often bear the brunt of overuse, with their high-intensity outings leading to a greater risk of injury. When a key arm goes down mid-season, it creates a ripple effect throughout the bullpen, forcing teams to either scramble for replacements or pull less experienced pitchers into the spotlight—decisions that can disrupt team cohesion and competitive edge. Moreover, assembling the right blend of talent is crucial. 

Effective bullpens also require a savvy combination of power pitchers, finesse throwers, left-handed specialists, and right-handed options to navigate the diverse lineups faced throughout a season. This intricate mix demands astute scouting and a deep understanding of each player's mental resilience and capacity to thrive under pressure. 

All of this is to say that while an effective bullpen is vital for achieving success in baseball, its development is an intricate challenge that necessitates meticulous planning, exceptional player evaluation, and a keen ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. Mastering this puzzle can set a team apart, paving the way for triumph in the quest for championship glory.

While constructing a great bullpen will ultimately depend on recruiting and roster development, some bits of wisdom can make the whole process easier. And Jeff Mielcarek has that wisdom in spades. 

Coach Mielcarek has excelled as the Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Central Catholic High School in Ohio since 1987. During that time, he has won three Toledo City Championships, three regular season titles, and three district titles. As a result of his success, Coach Mielcarek has been inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association (2011), Central Catholic Hall of Fame (2019), Toledo City League Hall of Fame (2022), and the NW Ohio Polish Hall of Fame (2022).

In his ‘Developing Effective Bullpens with Jeff Mielcarek’ clinic, Coach Mielcarek dives deep into how bullpen preparation directly impacts a team’s success, emphasizing the importance of mental and physical readiness before stepping onto the mound.

We have taken two of his best bullpen tips and explained them in detail for you below. 

The Birth of a Bullpen Strategy

Coach Mielcarek explains that it quickly became apparent to him that one of the most important aspects of a bullpen’s success is developing and then sticking to routines. 

Being a relief pitcher is spontaneous by nature, as most relievers (aside from the closer) rarely know when they’re going to enter the game until just a few minutes before their actual appearance. And this lack of structure combined with a potentially short time to get ready to pitch can often lend itself to winging it in terms of warming up.

But Coach Mielcarek asserts that not only should a bullpen have a set protocol on getting a pitcher warmed up and ready for the game, but each individual pitcher must have a set warm-up routine that they will use.

While the same warm-up can be used for every pitcher, reality is that different things work with different guys. And it’s fine if each pitcher’s warm-up routine is different, so long as it works for them and they stick to it. 

In addition, since sometimes relievers have longer or shorter time windows to warm-up than others, it’s a great idea for them to have two different warm-up routines, a condensed one that focuses on what’s absolutely necessary to be ready for the game in a couple minutes and a longer, more drawn out one that can be used when there’s more time. 

Time can be taken out of practices for coaches to help pitchers identify the warm-up activities that suit them and to develop their individual routines. 

Know Your Pitch: Strengths From the Bullpen

Any baseball coach knows that communication is crucial in the dugout. While this might seem to obviously translate to the bullpen, reality is that a lot can be lost in translation from the bullpen to the pitching coach or head coach, and that’s why things must be made clear as possible. 

Coach Mielcarek emphasizes that knowing your strengths in the bullpen is paramount. For one, this means in the sense of knowing which relievers are your best each season, along with who is available on any given day. 

But it also does much deeper than that. During each game, Coach Mielcarek says that there should be communication from the bullpen to the pitching coach about which pitches are working and not working for a reliever while they’re warming up. Just because a pitcher typically has a great curveball doesn’t guarantee that they’re going to have it every time they appear. So an initial scouting report should always be relayed.

However, a pitching coach should always test a reliever’s best strengths during each outing, regardless of how they looked in the bullpen. Because things can change in a game scenario.

US Sports Baseball: Four Drills to Sharpen a Baseball Hitter’s Vision at the Plate and Every team's TOP PROJECTED PLAYER for '25 🔥

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Four Drills to Sharpen a Baseball Hitter’s Vision at the Plate

• By Grant Young

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Baseball season is approaching fast, and improving a baseball hitter's vision and tracking skills is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the upcoming season. 

Here are some reasons why focusing on vision and tracking can provide significant benefits: 

1. Enhanced Pitch Recognition: One of the key elements of hitting is the ability to recognize different pitch types and their trajectories. By practicing drills that enhance pitch recognition, hitters can improve their ability to anticipate fastballs, curveballs, sliders, and changeups. This leads to better decision-making when it comes to swinging or taking a pitch. 

2. Improved Hand-Eye Coordination: Drills that focus on tracking pitches help develop a hitter's hand-eye coordination. This skill is essential for making contact with the ball consistently. By practicing with moving objects—like balls thrown at different speeds and angles—hitters can train their eyes and hands to work in unison, which is vital for successful hitting. 

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3. Depth Perception Training: Visual depth perception is crucial in determining how far the ball is traveling and its speed. Drills that simulate various game situations, such as tracking pitches from different distances or angles, can help players develop a better sense of depth, allowing them to judge pitch speed and distance more accurately. 

4. Focus and Concentration: Maintaining focus during at-bats is essential for success. Vision and tracking drills often require intense concentration and mental engagement. By consistently engaging in these drills during practice, players can enhance their ability to focus during games, minimizing distractions and helping them stay composed under pressure. 

5. Game Situational Awareness: Building vision and tracking skills also improves a player’s overall awareness of the game. Hitters who are in tune with the pitcher's mechanics and game scenarios can better assess their situations and make smarter decisions at the plate. 

A hitter's success at the plate begins with how well they see the ball and react, making these skills vital to their development. This is why baseball coaches must have several drills and techniques they can use to sharpen their hitters’ vision. 

And Brian Harrison could have your perfect solution. 

Brian Harrison enters his 15th season as the Head Baseball Coach at Baldwin Wallace University in 2025.  The 2019, 2023, and 2024 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Coach of the Year has won 519 career games, including 378 at BW. Harrison has led the Yellow Jackets to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III National Tournament on seven occasions, including the school's first-ever trip to the College World Series in 2014 and consecutive appearances in 2022 and 2023.

In his ‘The Complete Hitter’ clinic, Coach Harrison details several drills he has used to improve his hitters’ vision at the plate, which we’ve included for your use below.  

Thumbs Drill

One hitting vision drill that Coach Harrison swears by is what he calls the Thumbs Drill. This drill requires no bat, balls, or batting cage, and instead requires a hitter’s complete focus, because this drill is difficult despite seeming somewhat simple.

The hitter will put their two hands together with each hand’s knuckles touching and their thumbs up, all about four inches away from their face. From there, the hitter is supposed to cross their eyes (which Coach Harrison suggests doing by looking at one’s nose) to the point where they can see a third thumb in their vision, which should be positioned in front of the other two thumbs. 

Once the hitter can see that third thumb, they’re going to work their hands back and forth in front of their face while still crossing their eyes (and still being able to see that third thumb). 

This drill focuses on the two eyes working together, which is crucial for improving vision as a hitter. 

Tracking Drills

Coach Harrison goes on to detail three specific drills that he recommends using when it comes to improving a hitter’s ability to track pitches. 

The first one involves making dime-sized markings of different colors (ideally red, green, and black) on different points of each baseball they’re going to use for batting practice. 

From there, the hitters will step up to the plate against a pitching machine that’s throwing around 95 mph fastballs. They won’t be swinging at these balls, but rather saying out loud which color on the ball they see as it heads toward the plate. 

The idea behind this drill is that it will force the player to focus intensely on the color, which will ultimately help them pick up on a ball’s spin once they develop that tracking skill. 

Coach Harrison’s next drill is similar, although it’s a bit more difficult than the first drill and requires swinging the bat. The coach who’s throwing batting practice (or a pitching machine can be used) is going to tell the hitter to divide the ball into quadrants (top-left, bottom-left, top-right and bottom-right), and that they should focus on hitting the ball at that specific quadrant with each swing. 

This will help the hitter to be more situational in their approach when the game rolls around.

Coach Harrison’s third and final drill in this section is similar to the previous but will start with front toss. Therefore, this is a great drill to start with during a hitting session that’s focused on vision tracking. 

With each front toss, the player should be trying to hit the ball on either the outside, middle, or inside part of the ball. This will allow a player to work on their swing and teach their eyes to lead the dance in terms of placing the ball at a certain place on the field while hitting in a game. 

US Sports Baseball: Three Offseason Baseball Drills to Simulate Competition and DAY IN THE LIFE of a USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Player

 

• By Grant Young

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The baseball offseason is a crucial period for players to enhance their skills and develop their game. This time away from the rigors of the regular season allows athletes to focus on their individual strengths and weaknesses without the pressure of games. It’s the perfect opportunity to implement baseball drills that can help improve specific aspects of their performance. 

Players can tailor their training regimens to address areas that need attention during the offseason. Whether it’s working on swing mechanics, improving fielding footwork, or increasing arm strength, the emphasis is on refining skills in a controlled environment. This focused practice can lead to significant improvements by the time spring training arrives. 

However, one challenge that arises during offseason training is finding drills that effectively simulate the experience of actual game competition. 

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While many drills are beneficial for skill development, they often lack the dynamic nature and decision-making elements present during a live game. For instance, while batting practice can help hone swing mechanics, it doesn’t replicate the pressure of facing a pitcher with varying speeds and styles, nor does it mimic game situations where players must quickly react to unpredictable plays. 

Fielding drills might focus on catching and throwing mechanics, but they do not fully emulate the fast-paced actions of a game where players must anticipate plays and communicate with teammates under pressure. Base running drills, while essential, may not capture the strategic decision-making involved in reading pitchers or reacting to game situations. 

The offseason provides a valuable chance for players to implement focused drills — but the challenge lies in finding effective ways to mimic the competitive nature of actual games. 

This is why we’ve taken three drills from veteran baseball coaches that they used specifically in the offseason to give their players a feel for competing when the meaningful games are still months away. 

Jake Davis - 21 Outs Drill

Jake Davis is the head coach of Ponder High School’s baseball team in Ponder, Texas. Before becoming head coach at Ponder High School, Jake Davis created a dynasty during his seven-season tenure at Celina High School. His ball clubs were constantly winning their district championship, and proved to be an extremely difficult team to beat both at home and on the field. 

Coach Davis’ ‘High Intensity Practice: Why and How’ course, he explains a unique twist he used on one of the most common competitive baseball drills there is: 21 outs. 

21 Outs (or 27 outs for a team that plays nine innings games) is simple. You have a team of players in the field, pitchers rotation on the mound, and another group of players as baserunners. You’ll then run through various game scenarios with a coach hitting fungo, with the goal being that you want to get 21 consecutive outs without making an error. 

What makes this drill so effective is that the added pressure to keep executing and making plays as the outs increase adds a level of stress and intensity for the players on the field, because they know one mistake will start the entire team back at zero. 

Coach Davis likes to pull the game scenarios at random using a deck of cards to add a level of intrigue to this drill. For example, one suit could mean the number of outs, the number could indicate what innings it is, etc. 

Howard Stein - Outfield Communication Drill

Howard Stein is the head baseball coach at Broward High School, which is located in Broward County, Florida. Before becoming Broward’s coach, Coach Stein was a coach at Flanagan High School, where he earned a reputation as an excellent hitting instructor. Being part of two state championship teams and offenses that regularly are ranked near the top of the conference is a testament to Coach Stein’s methods and teachings.

Coach Stein’s ‘Howard Stein - Outfield Play’ course explains some of the details he employs to help his outfielders get game-like reps with each other during the offseason.

The most important part here is that the outfielders have an accurate amount of space to work with, and the coach is far enough away that they actually have to hit the ball. Ideally, the coach should be standing at some plate and hitting fly balls with a fungo to outfielders who are positioned in their natural spots. This is the best way for coaches to replicate game-like scenarios for outfielders and will force outfielders to move and communicate the way they would actually need to during games. 

Steve Nicollerat - Reading Lefties Drill

Steve Nicollerat is the Founder of Coach Baseball Right, Which provides baseball organizations with dozens of resources available to grow and elevate their current programs and deepen their kids' experiences. 

In addition, Coach Nicollerat has about 40 years of experience coaching varsity baseball at St. Louis University High School, as well as playing collegiate ball at St. Louis University.

In his ‘The 10 Baserunning Drills Every Coach Needs’ course, Coach Nicollerat discusses a drill he used to help train baserunners on how to deal with lefties who read. 

Coach Nicollerat will either stand on the mound or stand in between it and first base while a line about three or four players deep will take their leads. He will then mimic a lefty who’s reading, having players either steal if the pitcher is going home or diving back to first base if they’re picking off. 

The key here to making this game-like is by actually having players sliding back into first base, and having some consequence on the line if they don’t make the correct call. There are consequences for misreading a lefty during a game, so there should be consequences during practices as well.