why cant left handed people play secound base??

Question

today in baseball practice my coach said leftys cant play 2nd base...why?

its werid though cuz i used to play 2nd very well in little league.. and now in high school its way different

Answer 1

we can, both myself and my brother played 2nd and short at a very high level and we are both lefties, its tough cause some of the plays require you to either make flat footed throws or across the body throws and you better make sure you can throw accurately, but if some coach tells you cant play 2nd, just ask him to give you some reps at practice, and show him what youve got
there is a bias against lefties up the middle, but it can be done

Answer 2

You really ought to be able to answer this yourself--simply stand where a second baseman stands and make the motion of throwing to first base as a left-handed fielder and then as a right-handed fielder. If it is not obvious to you at that point, you must not understand athletic mechanics well enough to play any sport.

I'm not surprised you were able to play 2B in little league--I played a few innnings at 2B here and there myself during little league. But in little league, you often are trying to simply stack your infield with whatever players you have who can field the ball competently. The actual throw to first is a secondary concern. And on a little league field, the throw from second to first is so short that the awkwardness of turning as a left-handed thrower is perhaps not quite as big of an issue. But even then, all things being equal, you would still rather have a right-handed player at second. I doubt you will see any left-handed kids playing the left side of the infield at the little league world series. At the level of little league all-star team up, pretty much all the fielders are competent and so there is never any reason to compromise with a left-handed person out of position.

Answer 3

As you get older, the competition gets better. To turn a double play or even make a play up the middle, a lefty has to get his body turned too much to make the throw quick enough. The key words were "quick enough". Righties who can play 2nd base are a dime a dozen. Remember I'm not saying that it can't be done, it just comes down to ball in glove to ball out of glove timing.

Answer 4

On most infield plays the ball has to be thrown counter-clockwise around the diamond. When facing toward home plate, a right-hander would be throwing across his body - that is, a natural throwing motion - in order to throw to first base. A left hander would have to turn his body around to be facing the right way for the throw. Because of the time it takes to make that turn, a lefty infielder is at a significant disadvantage.

Answer 5

The first person said it right. Try trying to turn a double play at second base, you have to turn your whole body and that is just awkward, and hard. I mean, if your really talented and quick, and can do it better then any righty, great. But high school is higher level and so they are stricter on allowing things like that. Sorry that you can't do it though. Hope you can enjoy your new position. :)

Answer 6

It takes a different approach to turn the double play. To throw to first base you will have to be on the pitchers side of second base. The added movement to get to the position to throw accurately to first adds a lot of time to the play. Probability of runner going to first from home rises.

Answer 7

Because there is no "secound" base or "leftys"?

Only other thing I can think of is that they would have to throw against their bodies on the turn to throw to first. They would have to fade to the outfield side of the bag to make the throw, which would be awkward.

Answer 8

lefties will have have a harder time turning the much needed double play, which is one of the most important plays while in defense. Also every time you throw the ball to first you would have to adjust your body towards first, it would be awkward.

Answer 9

i cant just pick up the ball and throw it. you have to turn your body allllll the way around and that could mean a lot in baseball and it would kill you in a double play. lefties stick with outfield and pitchin. maybe catchin to i dont see why a lefty coundnt catch.

Answer 10

Because the throwing and body position to turn a double play is backwards to a rightys body position and throwing motion.