Left fielder: Difference between revisions

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In baseball, a left fielder, abbreviated LF, is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the left fielder is assigned the number seven.^[1]

Position description

Hall of fame left fielder Rickey Henderson attempting a steal. Henderson holds both the single season and career stolen base records.

Of all outfielders, the left fielder often will have the weakest arm, as he generally does not need to throw the ball as far to prevent the advance of any baserunners. The left fielder still requires good fielding and catching skills, and tends to receive more balls than the right fielder because right-handed hitters tend to "pull" the ball into left field. The left fielder also backs up third base on pick-off attempts from the catcher or pitcher and bunts, when possible. Moreover, when a runner is stealing third base, the left fielder must back up the throw from the catcher. Left fielders must also back up third base when a ball is thrown from right field, and back up center field when a pop fly is hit into the pocket.

Hall of Fame left fielders

The following are baseball players inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as left fielders:^[2]

References

^ Nelson, Steve (December 4, 2020). "Understanding Every Baseball Position and Their Role". BaseballTrainingWorld.com.
^ "The Hall of Fame members". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 26 March 2018.

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+{{Short description|Defensive position in baseball}}
-{{redirect|Left field|Aka GOAT|Leftfield (disambiguation)}}
+{{redirect|Left field|other uses|Leftfield (disambiguation)}}
 {{Refimprove|date=December 2006}}
 [[Image:Baseball LF.svg|thumb|right|The position of the left fielder]]
-In [[baseball]], a '''left fielder (LF)''' is an [[outfielder]] who plays defense in '''left field'''. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at [[home plate]] and facing towards the [[pitcher's mound]]. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the left fielder is assigned the number 7.
+In [[baseball]], a '''left fielder''', abbreviated '''LF''', is an [[outfielder]] who plays defense in '''left field'''. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at [[home plate]] and facing towards the [[pitcher's mound]]. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the left fielder is assigned the number seven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baseballtrainingworld.com/understanding-every-baseball-position-and-their-role/|title=Understanding Every Baseball Position and Their Role|website=BaseballTrainingWorld.com|first=Steve|last=Nelson|date=December 4, 2020}}</ref>
 ==Position description==
+[[File:Rickey Henderson and Eddie Murray, 1983.jpg|thumb|right|Hall of fame left fielder [[Rickey Henderson]] attempting a steal. Henderson holds both the single season and career stolen base records. ]]
-[[Outfielder]]s must cover large distances - speed, instincts, and quickness in reacting to the ball are key. They must be able to catch fly balls above their head and on the run. They must be able to throw the ball accurately over a long distance to be effective; they must also learn to judge whether to attempt a difficult catch and risk letting the ball get past them, or to instead allow the ball to fall in order to guarantee a swift play and prevent the advance of runners. Left fielders must also familiarize themselves with the varying configurations of different ballparks' foul territory, and prevent balls hit down the foul lines from getting past them into the left field corner. Amateur players may find it difficult to concentrate on the game, since they are so far from the action. Emphasizing the correct position will give outfield players something to concentrate on at each pitch. Hits to left field tend to curve toward the left field foul line, and left fielders must learn to adjust to that.
+Of all outfielders, the left fielder often will have the weakest arm, as he generally does not need to throw the ball as far to prevent the advance of any baserunners. The left fielder still requires good fielding and catching skills, and tends to receive more balls than the right fielder because [[right-handed]] hitters tend to "pull" the ball into left field.  The left fielder also backs up [[third baseman|third base]] on pick-off attempts from the [[catcher]] or [[pitcher]] and bunts, when possible. Moreover, when a runner is stealing third base, the left fielder must back up the throw from the catcher. Left fielders must also back up third base when a ball is thrown from right field, and back up center field when a pop fly is hit into the pocket.
+== Hall of Fame left fielders==
-Of all outfielders, the left fielder often will have the weakest arm, as they generally do not need to throw the ball as far to prevent the advance of any baserunners. The left fielder still requires good fielding and catching skills, and tends to receive more balls than the right fielder because [[right-handed]] hitters tend to "pull" the ball into left field.  The left fielder also backs up [[third baseman|third base]] on pick-off attempts from the [[catcher]] or [[pitcher]] and bunts, when possible. Also if a runner is stealing third base the left fielder must back up the throw from the catcher. Left fielders must also back up third base when a ball is thrown from right field, and back up center field when a pop fly is hit into the pocket.
+The following are baseball players inducted to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] as left fielders:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseballhall.org/explorer?name=&team=All&induction=All&pos=18&state=All&born%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&bats=All&throws=All|title=The Hall of Fame members|website=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
+{{Col-begin}}
-Despite giving their teams the advantage of accommodating a player with a weak arm, a left fielder with an above average throwing arm can easily compile many [[assist (baseball)|assist]]s. After being converted to left field, [[Alfonso Soriano]] led the league with 22 and 19 outfield assists in 2006 and 2007, respectively, his first two years playing the outfield. Despite regularly leading the league in errors and often coming out of the game for a [[defensive replacement]] in late innings, his strong arm is best utilized in left.
+{{Col-break}}
-==Notable left fielders==
-The following are baseball players inducted to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] as left fielders:<ref>http://baseballhall.org/explorer?name=&team=All&induction=All&pos=18&state=All&born%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&bats=All&throws=All</ref> [[Chick Hafey]] not shown in reference, but is in the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]], and played most of his games in left field.
-{{multicol}}
 * [[Lou Brock]]
 * [[Jesse Burkett]]
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 * [[Ed Delahanty]]
 * [[Goose Goslin]]
+* [[Chick Hafey]]
-{{multicol-break}}
+{{Col-break}}
-* [[Chick Hafey]]
 * [[Rickey Henderson]]
 * [[Monte Irvin]]
 * [[Joe Kelley]]
 * [[Ralph Kiner]]
+* [[Heinie Manush]]
+* [[Joe Medwick]]
-{{multicol-break}}
+{{Col-break}}
-* [[Heinie Manush]]
-* [[Joe Medwick]]
 * [[Stan Musial]]
 * [[Jim O'Rourke (baseball)|Jim O'Rourke]]
+* [[Tim Raines]]
 * [[Jim Rice]]
+* [[Al Simmons]]
-{{multicol-break}}
+{{Col-break}}
-* [[Al Simmons]]
 * [[Willie Stargell]]
 * [[Zack Wheat]]
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 * [[Carl Yastrzemski]]
-{{multicol-end}}
+{{col-end}}
-==Position Transitions==
-When most left fielders are older or struggling defensively, they will move to [[first base]] or [[designated hitter]], usually. [[Third base|Third basemen]] will sometimes move to left, [[Ryan Braun]] and [[Alex Gordon]] are examples. [[Jose Bautista]] is an example, that third basemen move to the [[corner outfield]] positions.
 ==References==

Latest revision as of 19:21, 9 June 2023

Position description

Hall of Fame left fielders

References

See also