by James Douglas Doorsman

Created on: February 23, 2010   Last Updated: October 23, 2010

A "short hop" is when a baseball bounces so closely in front of you so that you have to attempt to catch it before it reaches the apex of the bounce.  The ball is usually moving very quickly and is still on the way up and very difficult to handle. A ball alredy having reached the apex or top of the bounce and far enough away from you to field is a simple fielding job compared to the short hop in baseball.  Fielding the short hop is important because if it is not fielded properly this results in what can be an easy out becoming a base hit. The first baseman also short hops a lot of errant throws form the other infielders and should be particularly adept at short hopping the ball. Instead of an out the runner may advance to second or even third base should the throw get beyond him or her.

The first thing is not to be afraid of the ball.  Go after it with your gloved hand and keep your eyes on it or you might get hit somewhere where it hurts pretty badly.  Protect your face, neck and for gosh sakes your genitalia but stay in front of the ball.  A short hop that might bounce off your chest isn't going to hurt that badly if you miss the ball and you still might make the play.  The ball is moving quickly in most cases and a well timed catch means you have time to make a play on the runner. The first baseman may be fully stretched to receive an off target throw and subject to injury should they not field the ball correctly.

Too often a player is so afraid of being hit by a short hop that they back up and let the ball "play them" or try to field it off to the side of their body and the ball will get behind them for a base hit or as an outfielder for an extra base hit.  The time it takes for the ball to reach the top of the bounce may be the difference in whether you get the runner out at first of they are safe. By all means respect a hard hit ball but keep it in control by focusing on the ball and DO NOT turn your head away from the play.  Watch the ball into the glove and you will safely field the short hop more often than not. Turning you head away from the play means that you have taken your eyes off of the baseball and are subjected to getting hit in the head.  This is not the way to make a heads up play.

Third and first basemen field a lot of short hops that would be base hits if they don't stop the ball.  Knock the ball down if you have to with your gloved hand and keep it in front of you so that the play can still be made.  You can pick the ball up off of the ground if you haven't taken your eyes off of it and still have plenty of time to make the throw.  How many times have you seen a fielder who although got in front of the ball took their eyes off of it and are searching for the ball as the runners advance?  The key is always keeping the ball in front of you and your eyes on it at all times and you have successfully fielded the short hop.

An outfielder may run up to attempt to catch the ball and then realize they can't get to it in time and have to stop and short hop the ball. In this case the base hit that was once a single if fielded properly can become a double, triple or an inside-the-park home run if missed.  The object here is relatively the same.  Stop the ball even if it hits your chest , keep it in front of you and "eyes on the ball".  Field the ball and throw to keep the runners form advancing. 

Play Ball!

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