What are some tips for a catcher to remember when fielding a bunt? Learn how to field a bunt. At first glance, one would think that all a catcher does during a game is to catch the baseball that is thrown...
At first glance, one would think that all a catcher does during a game is to catch the baseball that is thrown from the pitcher.
But when you look deeper into the responsibilities of a catcher, being agile and athletic behind the plate is a necessity.
But when you look deeper into the responsibilities of a catcher, being agile and athletic behind the plate is a necessity.
One area where a catcher can be an asset to his team is when it comes to fielding bunts out in front of the plate.
Perry Roth is the assistant coach of the Birmingham Southern College Panthers. In his second stint with the Panthers, Roth is responsible for catchers and hitting instruction. In his career, Roth has coached at BSC (two different occasions), Bradley, Illinois St., Springfield Calvary Academy and his alma mater, Greenville College.
Roth said that having a solid technique when approaching a bunted baseball will help any catcher reduce the possibilities of errors.
"You want to be quick to the ball, obviously," he said. "Then it depends upon the bunt. For rolling bunts, use two hands. If the bunt is stopped, you can use one hand."
The first detail that Roth talked about is speed from the catcher's position. If a catcher takes his time getting out of his stance and getting to the bunt, he may be forced to make a hurried throw which could lead to an error. The quicker he gets to the baseball the more time he will have to display good solid technique.
"Push it through the ground with your eyes and your fingers when you pick it up," Roth said. "Forearm to the sky and a short arm swing and then get rid of it."
Another issue that catchers have to deal with when throwing the baseball is which baseline the ball has been bunted down.
If the baseball is bunted down the third baseline, the catcher must react twice as fast because the throw to first base will be a little more difficult.
As the catcher gets to the baseball down the third baseline, he must field the baseball cleanly while almost simultaneously planting his right leg for the throw. With the right foot planted, he must rotate his hips and make a solid and hard throw to first base. It's important for the catcher to be able to react and throw on a bunt down the third baseline because there won't be much time to think.
Now, when fielding a baseball bunted down the first baseline, the catcher may have to deal with a few different obstacles.
The first will be throwing to a moving target. More times than not, the first baseman will be charging the bunt as well and won't be available to cover first base. In this case, the second baseman will have to cover first base. The catcher should be aware to throw to the base and not to the second baseman as he may still be moving.
Another issue is the base runner.
"He is supposed to stay in the running lane," Roth said about the base runner. "If he is out of the running lane and the ball hits him, it's the base runner's fault. If he is in the running lane and the throw hits him, it's the catcher's fault."
So what should the catcher do?
"You want to create a throwing line, so it depends on the speed of the runner and the depth of the bunt," Roth said. "You should field it almost a short step away from the line to create a throwing lane."
