Teaching Pitcher Fielding: The Complete PFP Guide
After the ball leaves the pitchers hand, the pitcher becomes a fielder. A pitcher who cannot field the position is a defensive liability that teams will exploit. PFP is one of the most neglected areas of youth baseball practice. This guide covers every scenario a pitcher will face and how to prepare for each one.
Coach Gerald Bautista
Professional Baseball Veteran | Hitting & Fielding Coach
Gerald Bautista spent nine years in professional baseball — including time in the Cleveland Guardians organization and independent leagues — competing at levels most players never reach. That career gave him a firsthand education in what separates athletes who advance from those who plateau: efficient mechanics, a confident plate approach, and the mental edge that holds up under pressure. He now brings that knowledge to the coaching box, working with catchers, infielders, outfielders, and hitters to build the complete player — one who is ready for the next level before they get there.
Credentials & Experience:
- ✓9 years of professional baseball, including Cleveland Guardians organization
- ✓Independent league experience at the highest non-MLB level
- ✓Specializes in swing mechanics, fielding fundamentals, and plate approach
- ✓Works with athletes from youth travel ball through college-bound players
Pitcher fielding practice, or PFP, covers every defensive responsibility the pitcher has beyond throwing pitches. This includes fielding bunts, covering first base on ground balls to the right side, fielding comebackers, backing up bases, and executing pickoff plays. Every one of these situations will happen in a game. The question is whether your pitcher will be prepared when it does.
The challenge with PFP is that pitchers often view themselves as throwers, not fielders. They finish their delivery and mentally disengage from the play. Good PFP training changes this mindset: the pitch is just the first action. After the ball leaves the hand, the pitcher must immediately become an alert, ready fielder. This guide covers the five core PFP skills and provides drills for each.
Covering first base
This is the most common PFP play and the one most often botched. On any ground ball hit to the right side of the infield, the pitcher must break toward first base.
The path
The pitcher should break at a 45-degree angle toward a spot about 15 feet up the first base line from the bag, then turn and run along the foul line toward first base. This banana-shaped path allows the pitcher to arrive at the bag running parallel to the baseline, which makes it easier to receive the throw and touch the bag simultaneously. Running directly at the bag creates a head-on angle with the throw and is more difficult.
Receiving the throw
The pitcher should give the first baseman a target with the glove while approaching the bag. Touch the inside edge of the bag (closest to the fielding side) with the foot and keep running past the bag into foul territory. Do not stop on the bag. Stopping creates collision risk with the runner. The key timing: arrive at the bag slightly before the throw, not after.
Drill: First base coverage reps
Position the pitcher on the mound. Hit ground balls to the first baseman. On each ground ball, the pitcher breaks to cover first. The first baseman fields and makes the underhand toss. Do 10 reps per pitcher per practice. This play should become automatic, meaning the pitcher breaks on any ball hit to the right side without thinking about it.
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Fielding bunts
Reading the bunt
The pitcher must react to the bunt instantly. As soon as the hitter squares or shows bunt, the pitcher should anticipate a ball coming back to the mound area. After the delivery, the pitcher should land in a balanced fielding position with the glove ready. The quickest path to the ball is a direct line. Do not round off toward the ball. Go straight to it.
Fielding the ball
Field the bunt with two hands whenever possible. The bare hand on top of the ball, the glove underneath. Get the feet around the ball so you are facing the target before picking it up. Scooping while running toward the target leads to throwing errors. The extra half-second to set the feet saves more runs than it costs.
Decision making
On a sacrifice bunt with a runner on first, the pitcher fields and throws to first base to get the sure out unless there is a clear play at second. The lead runner advancing is acceptable on a sacrifice. Going for the lead runner and getting nobody is unacceptable. Teach pitchers the hierarchy: get an out. The easy out first. The difficult out only when it is obvious.
Fielding comebackers
Fielding position after delivery
The pitcher should finish the delivery in an athletic fielding position: feet roughly shoulder-width, weight balanced, glove in front ready to react. Many young pitchers fall off to one side during delivery, which compromises their fielding position. Work on finishing balanced as part of pitching mechanics, not just as a fielding drill.
Self-protection
Comebackers can be dangerous. A ball hit back through the middle arrives at the pitcher in less than half a second from 46 feet (youth distance). The pitcher must be in a position to react and protect themselves. The glove should finish in front of the body after each pitch. This is a safety issue as much as a fielding issue. Drills should include reaction balls and quick-hands exercises.
Drill: Comebacker reaction
The pitcher stands on the mound in their follow-through position. A coach standing 30 feet away rolls ground balls at varying speeds directly at the pitcher. The pitcher fields and throws to first. Progress from slow rollers to sharp ground balls as competence improves. Do 10 reps per session. This builds the reaction time and hands needed for real comebackers.
Backing up bases
The most overlooked PFP responsibility. After every pitch that is put in play, the pitcher has a backup responsibility. Failing to back up leads to extra bases on overthrows.
Single to the outfield, no runners on
The pitcher backs up second base in case the throw from the outfield gets past the infielder. Position yourself about 20 feet behind the bag in line with the throw.
Runner on second, base hit to outfield
The pitcher backs up home plate. The runner on second will likely score, and the throw from the outfield will go home. Be 20 feet behind home plate in line with the throw from the outfield.
The rule of thumb
If the pitcher is not fielding the ball and not covering a base, they should be backing up the base where the throw is going. Every play has a throw. Every throw needs a backup. The pitcher is almost always the right person for that backup. Sprint to the backup position. Walking means arriving late, which means the backup is useless.
Pickoff moves and holding runners
Purpose of the pickoff
The primary purpose of a pickoff move is not to pick the runner off. It is to control the runners lead and disrupt their timing. A pitcher who never throws over gives the runner free reign to take a huge lead and get a great jump on steal attempts. Even a mediocre pickoff move that keeps the runner honest is valuable.
Basic pickoff to first
From the set position, the pitcher must step toward first base before throwing. The step must be clearly toward first, not toward home. A step toward home with a throw to first is a balk. Practice the move by stepping and throwing to a target on the wall. The throw should be firm and accurate to the first basemans glove-side shoulder. Quick feet and a short arm action are more effective than a hard throw.
Frequently asked questions
How much time should PFP get in practice?
Dedicate 10-15 minutes per practice to PFP, at least twice per week. This is enough time to run through covering first, fielding bunts, and comebackers. Backing up bases can be taught during team defensive drills. Pickoff moves can be worked on during bullpen sessions.
Should PFP count toward pitch count limits?
PFP throws are not pitching throws and should not count toward pitch count limits. However, be mindful of total arm workload. If a pitcher just threw a bullpen session or a game, keep PFP throws light and focus more on footwork and positioning than arm strength.
What is the most important PFP play to master first?
Covering first base. It happens multiple times in almost every game and is the play most often botched by youth pitchers. Once covering first is automatic, move to fielding bunts, then comebackers, then backing up bases, and finally pickoff moves.
Complete pitchers field their position
Mind & Muscle includes pitcher-specific defensive training scenarios that prepare your player for every PFP situation they will face in a game.
Download Free TodayFrequently asked questions
PFP stands for Pitcher Fielding Practice. It covers all defensive responsibilities beyond throwing pitches: covering first base, fielding bunts, handling comebackers, backing up bases, and pickoff moves.\n\nEvery one of these situations happens in games. PFP ensures the pitcher is prepared.
10-15 minutes per practice, at least twice per week. This covers covering first, bunts, and comebackers.\n\nBacking up bases is taught during team defense. Pickoff moves are worked on during bullpen sessions.
Covering first base. It happens multiple times in almost every game and is the most commonly botched play by youth pitchers.\n\nOnce covering first is automatic, progress to bunts, comebackers, backing up, and pickoff moves.
No. PFP throws are fielding throws, not pitching throws. They should not count toward pitch count limits.\n\nHowever, be mindful of total arm workload. If a pitcher just threw a game, keep PFP throws light and focus on footwork.
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