With nine different positions on the baseball field, there is bound to be disagreement over which is the most difficult to play. It’s also hard for any baseball player to look at the list and concede to the fact that the position they play isn’t the most difficult on the field!
Not to mention that we all might have different definitions of “difficult” right? Does difficult mean you need more skills, or does it mean danger? Can a position be difficult one game and not the next?
All that said, the list will vary from person to person, and is largely based on personal opinion. But if you’re a parent of a child and need some sort of guidance or understanding as to where to steer your child or are trying to figure out what they might be in for, then let’s take a look.
1. Pitcher
On-field play does not begin until the pitcher throws the ball. And before that can happen, they must retrieve signs from their catcher, go into their wind up, or come set and check the runners on base.
Speaking of runners on base, pitchers are tasked with holding them close with pick-off throws and varying their tempo; all while remembering changing signs and then of course making a quality pitch.
And on top of all of that, pitchers have to field their positions, not only handling hard-hit line drives up the middle, but sprinting towards bunts, stopping on a dime, and making an accurate throw to first base.
Did I mention every single play starts with them? Starters throw a ton of pitches per game and relievers have to regularly face high-stress situations. It’s for that reason that pitcher is the most difficult position on the baseball field.
And what about all of those different pitches and grips? Greg Maddux and the 2-seam? the tricky knuckleball? Even a running fastball isn’t all that straightforward.
And let’s not forget about fielding your position…speaking of Greg Maddux, he has the most Gold Glove awards of anyone at any position with 18.
Read More: Difference Between the Gold Glove and Platinum Glove
2. Catcher
Now, if you’re one to make the argument that “difficult” equates to putting your body in harm’s way, then catcher deserves to be the most difficult position on the list. But since we need to take a number of different factors into consideration, it will sit at number two for now.
For just as many pitches that a pitcher makes, there needs to be a catcher on the other end to receive. We are talking 90MPH+ fastballs, sinkers in the dirt, and a whole lot more. Add in the fact that catchers are weighed down with protective gear – and rightly so – and also have to endure swinging bats and foul tips, and you have a pretty difficult position on your hands.
All of that, and we haven’t even talked about what happens before and after the pitch. Before, of course, the catcher is responsible for relaying signals to the pitcher and sometimes the fielders. If there is a runner on base who tries to steal, the catcher is the one who has to catch that fastball or ball in the dirt and then jump up to make an accurate throw to try and nab them.
Read More: What Does “Top” or “Bottom” Mean in Baseball?
The constant crouching position is terrible for ones legs, yet, the catcher is still expected to sprint down the line and back up first base when they’re able, and just like the pitcher, to field bunts or swinging bunts that dribble onto the field.
When there is a play at the plate, it’s the catcher throwing a bat out of the way, positioning themselves to receive the ball from their infield or outfield, and then apply the tag on a runner barreling towards them.
Catcher is number two on this list, but can easily be number one.
3. First Base
While pitchers and catchers are involved in every single play, the first basement is going to be involved in most infield grounders (that don’t end at a force at another bag) and even pop outs. First basemen also must hold runners on when they’re at first (keep them close so they don’t steal easily), and hop off the bag in a defensive position when the ball is thrown and batted.
Not to mention that not every throw that comes their way isn’t a perfect one, and thus first basemen must be able to “pick” the ball from the dirt, jump for errant throws, and more, all while runners are sprinting down the line. First basemen are also involved in almost every bunting play, either receiving the ball from others or fielding the ball themselves, which isn’t easy.
And since they themselves are the ones other fielders usually throw to, when first basement field a ground ball, they must scamper to the bag to beat the runner, or accurately toss the ball to the pitcher who is covering with a perfectly-timed lead.
Pop-outs are difficult to navigate in the face of swirling winds, bright sunshine and foul territory with obstacles such ad dugouts and distracting fans. Being at a corner position isn’t easy either, as they are positioned closer to the batter than shortstop and second base, and off course the outfielders.
First base is not a walk in the park, and is three on this list.
4. Shortstop
It feels incorrect to put shortstop at number five in terms of difficulty, but here is what I’m thinking. Shortstop is actually one of the most important positions on the field, and requires one of a team’s best athletes. It’s a position where the person playing it must be great at a lot of little things, but nothing to an extreme extent like the other positions, perhaps.
So, while number five on this list, I can easily make an argument for a much higher ranking, but for now we will roll with things here.
In terms of what makes shortstop difficult, as mentioned, they really need to be a jack of all trades. They need to be quick-footed and have range to get to a lot of balls either up the middle or to their right in the hole. They need to have great hands to make tough plays and quickly get the ball out of their gloves. They also need to have a strong arm to make pretty much every play they’re involved with, as everyone is a close one.
In addition to the above, the shortstop is a key piece of most double plays, either feeding the ball to second base or taking it in with a runner heading toward them and firing to first. If a runner is stealing second, the shortstop is also one of two people who would cover the bag.
The shortstop also handles their fair share of pop-ups either in front of them as the infield converges or behind them on balls between the infield and the outfield.
Again, nothing that would make you say “wow” like you would when looking at what a pitcher or catcher endures, but an all-around difficult position.
5. Third Base
This one isn’t being listed right after first base as a coincidence, as much of what the first baseman has to deal with is also taken on by the third basemen, but to a lesser degree in terms of having to deal with base runners.
So, won’t spend too much time here as a lot of what is talked about above can be applied here as well. But, keep this in mind—they don’t call third base the hot corner for nothing. With the majority of batters swinging from the right side of home plate, third basemen was prime targets for line drives and one hoppers zipped off the bat of batters standing 90 feet away.
For all of these reasons, third base is number four on this list in terms of difficulty.
6. Second Base
Much like the similarities between first and third base play, the second basemen goes through a lot of what the shortstop endures. That said, being that they are much closer to first basemen, the second baseman who ventures into the hole to grab a ball should have an easier time getting that ball to first. The up the middle play is tough, though, as they must come to a stop or make a throw while their body is heading a different direction.
Turning double plays is also not a walk in the park. Unless the ball is hit up the middle and the second basemen can flip the ball to shortstop as their momentum carries them toward second base, the second basemen must make a hard pivot to fling the ball to second when hit at them or to their left.
So, second basemen aren’t typically as athletic as shortstop and can get away with having weaker arm strength (you won’t see many of them touted as five tool players), but still not easy to do a lot of what they do.
7. Center Field
It’s pretty difficult to distinguish one outfield position from the other, but center field is more or less the outfield captain, and has the best view of what’s unfolding on the entire field in front of them. That said, in terms of ease of ball tracking, it’s most difficult for a center fielder who is forced to read a ball head on rather than being able to benefit from the angle the left and right fielder can pick up on.
And without being confined by a foul line on either side, the center fielder needs to attack every ball until they are called off. When they are called off, they need to back up their fielders and of course retrieve any ball that gets past those fielders.
8. Right Field
What makes right field more difficult than left field is the need for the left fielder to have an extremely strong arm. While both positions will have equal throws to the plate, it’s the right fielder’s throw to third base – usually when a runner is going from first to third on a single or when tagging up from second base – that makes the position difficult.
Again, it’s tough to rank the outfield positions, as many of the best defensive outfielders of all time were right fielders.
9. Left Field
Which leads us to left field, which still of course requires great skill, but isn’t as difficult as the rest of the positions on the diamond. Being in the outfield means the only grounders they’ll be fielding will be on based hits, and thus the required throw after the fact is simply getting the ball back into the infield.
The toughest plays for a left fielder will be tracking balls down in the gap, chasing balls in foul territory, and making strong throws to second, third, and home.
So, what do we think? As you can see, I’m of the mind that the infield positions, even second base, are more difficult than the outfield positions. That also means that, for me, even though someone like a first basemen might not be the greatest athlete, they still have a lot of difficulty in front of them.
