Baseball IQ: Situations Know your job before the pitch.
Runner on 3rd with the infield in. Hit-and-run with a runner on 1st. Two outs, runner on 2nd. Smart hitters know their job before they step in the box. 10 game situations, the right answer and the reason behind it.
- 3 minutes
- Baseball + fastpitch
- Free · no sign-up
Baseball IQ: Situations
Read the situation, pick the hitter’s job, then read why.
Why situational hitting matters
The same swing can be the right one or the wrong one depending on the situation. A ground ball to second is a great at-bat with a runner on 2nd and nobody out, and a bad one with the infield in. Knowing the job turns the at-bat into a plan.
Run the situation in the on-deck circle: outs, runners, count, the defense, and what the pitcher wants.
Training guide
What it trains
Game knowledge: counts, situations, rules and what a smart hitter does in each.
Who it’s for
Younger and developing players, and coaches who want a quick team quiz.
How to get better
- Read every explanation, especially on the ones you got right by guessing.
- Take it again in a week and see what stuck.
- Talk through the situations with a coach or parent.
- Watch a game and call what each hitter should be trying to do.
Read more on the Backspin Blog
- What Every Hitter Must Know: Hitting Is a System
- Two Strike Approach Baseball: How to Battle
- Why the Best Youth Players Play Shortstop
- What College Coaches Look For in a Hitter
Next step: run the free Hitter Combine to find your #1 priority, or train this skill start to finish in the Mental Approach course.
Questions
What is situational hitting?
Changing your goal for an at-bat based on the game: outs, runners, the count and the defense. For example, hitting the ball to the right side to move a runner from second to third with nobody out.
What should a hitter do with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs?
Put the ball in play: a fly ball deep enough or a ground ball to the middle infield (if the infield is back) scores the run. Avoid the strikeout.
Is there a softball version?
Yes. Switch to fastpitch for slap, riseball and dropball situations.