The third baseman or pitcher, whoever does not field the ball should peel back and cover third but if they fall asleep... if your runner from first base would like to race my left fielder to third I am game if my LF loses I will go find another one. I ALWAYS tell my outfielders on every play if you are not moving somewhere you are doing it WRONG. If it is the most routine of nothing plays you should still be running toward the infield just in case.
Where does the SS go on a bunt with a runner on first?
- Thread starter Lothar241
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We have some 'depends' with this play because when I have a 'stud' 3rd base, a solid catcher with a good fielding pitcher I often leave 1st back. We teach our 3rd base to believe that ALL bunts are theirs and last season I had one where that was pretty much the case.
If you are crashing corners then absolutely SS covers 2nd, 2nd covers first. On an easy fielded bunt you have the chance to get the lead runner this way. Covering 3rd is either a retreating 3rd, the P or LF - 2 of the 3 should be heading that way but if the LF can get there that is our preference.
Outfielders - LF is coming into 3rd, CF is working to back up any possible throw to 2nd, RF backing up the throw to 1st.
Echo what most have said.
SS covers 2nd. 2nd covers 1st. 3rd, Pitcher or LF moving to 3rd bag if haven't fielded bunt. LF always coming in case others don't or forget or to back-up throw if they don't and there is a play.
90% of the time if you have someone at 3rd or in the area runner will stop at 2nd - may not necessarily need to throw to 3rd just show that it is covered and "not available" to the runner.
Wouldn't want 2nd covering 2nd in this situation. Vulnerable to fake bunt / steals plus a good bunt down the first base line and everybody is safe (pitcher won't get there and if 1st crashes no one to throw to).
SS covers 2nd. 2nd covers 1st. 3rd, Pitcher or LF moving to 3rd bag if haven't fielded bunt. LF always coming in case others don't or forget or to back-up throw if they don't and there is a play.
90% of the time if you have someone at 3rd or in the area runner will stop at 2nd - may not necessarily need to throw to 3rd just show that it is covered and "not available" to the runner.
Wouldn't want 2nd covering 2nd in this situation. Vulnerable to fake bunt / steals plus a good bunt down the first base line and everybody is safe (pitcher won't get there and if 1st crashes no one to throw to).
I saw a game where P was covering 3B on a bunt. One bunt was hit so only P could field it. Base runner ended up at 3B.
IMHO, the preferable situation is to have RF cover 3B.
IMHO, the preferable situation is to have RF cover 3B.
- Mar 4, 2013
- 9
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For us, the player that doesn't field the bunt on the left side covers third. That would be either the pitcher or the 3rd baseman, depending on who fields the bunt. We also have the LF run in as the backup if the 3B or P don't get there.
During a bunt with a runner on 1B, we coach our SS to cover 2B in case it is a hard bunt and we have a chance to get the lead runner. It is the responsibility of the 3B to get back to the bag. If 3B fields the bunt, then the pitcher should cover 3B. We also coach our LF to charge towards the bag as a backup/last resort incase 3B or P does not get there.
Our RF is not nearly fast enough.
Ray will probably put us all in timeout. 
