Using Weighted Balls for Training Implements for Infielders

In the game of baseball there are a lot of training implements used to help our athletes understand what they are doing. One of those training implements are weighted balls. In this blog post I will go over a few drills that two infield coaches do with weighted balls. 

Fundamentals for Success as Infielders

    Out of 100% of errors made by infielders, 80% of those errors are from throws. Keeping this in mind, Coach Uby Martinez focuses on having his infielders stay strong with their fielding fundamentals in order to have consistent throws made. In order to have consistent and strong throws made, infielders must use their legs. The legs set up the rest of the body for success. When fielding a ground ball the infielder wants to be in a position like he is guarding someone in basketball. The infielder should catch the ball with his weight on the balls of his feet. The contact point for catching the ball is out in front of the bill of the cap. The eyes should stay on the ball and see the catch so that the body and head stays still. After the ball is caught, the infielder needs to bring the ball to the middle of the body and transition the ball out of the glove in a thumbs down motion. The thumbs down motion, will maintain a strong front side and allow for the throwing arm to have a smooth swing into the throwing position. The grip the infielder needs to have on the ball is a four seam grip. The four seam grip will allow the ball to fly straight to the target. 

Four Corner Med Ball Drill and Medicine Ball Drill with Throw

    With this medicine ball drill, Coach Martinez has the infielders in four corners. The weight of the medicine ball that is used is a ten pound medicine ball. The infielders will roll the medicine ball to their teammate. The infielder receiving the weighted ball will use his ready step to create momentum to catch the medicine ball just like he would to catch a ground ball. The infielder will catch the medicine ball, bring the ball to the center of the body and take four shuffles before tossing the ball to their teammate. This drill is helpful because the infielder will feel if he caught the ball properly or if he is in good posture when he is in the shuffle portion of the drill. The next phase of this drill would be adding the throwing portion. The infielder will do everything that happened in the Four Corner Medicine Ball Drill, but will now add the throw. The addition of the throwing piece of this drill helps the infielders to understand why it is important to have the ball brought to the middle of the body and to have the legs in an athletic position. The legs will allow the arms to throw the medicine ball stronger than without being in the proper position. 

 (The infielder is in a strong position to catch the ground ball)

(Four Seam Fastball grip)

Using Medicine Balls to Practice Tagging Out Runners

    Coach Pablo Cabrera uses medicine balls to help his infielders work on tagging out base runners/stealers. Coach Cabrera uses the medicine balls in a similar way in each of these drills, but it helps the infielders practice different situations When catchers are throwing down to bases, he will roll a medicine ball to the base so that the infielders will work on a smooth transition from catch to tag out a base runner. For example, with catchers throwing down to second base it is important for the infielder to understand the strength of the throw. The same things can be practiced with throw downs by catchers at third and back pick throws to first base. The beauty behind this drill is instead of catchers just getting something out of throw downs, now the infielders will get something out of it too. Another way that Coach Cabrera uses medicine balls in a drill is when outfielders are throwing to the bases. The medicine ball is tossed to second or third on cuts and relays to help the infielders work on creating strong relay throws and tags, making catch and throws on long hops, or throws on a line while also making the tag on the base runner. 

     To elaborate on the footwork for the infielder from the catcher, if it is a weak throw, then the infielder will need to step in front of the base to catch the throw and then tag. If it is a strong throw the infielder can stay staggered with the base in between his legs to tag out the runner. If the throw is too strong, then the infielder will need to step behind the base or jump up in the air to catch the ball. The priority is to catch the ball, then tag out the runner. 

(Footwork for a strong throw from the catcher (above image) and for a weaker throw (below image))

In conclusion, there are many ways to use training implements such as medicine balls to help infielders work on their fundamentals or on skills such as tagging base runners/stealers out. Both of these coaches help their infielders become better by their creativity to practice game situations in the practice setting. The key to be successful like Coach Martinez and Coach Cabrera is to think outside of the box and use what materials you have to help your players improve.