The pitch ends with the ball leaving the hand. The play might not. Comebackers, bunts, and slow rollers are the pitcher’s responsibility. After every throw, the pitcher needs to land in a fielding stance, glove ready. This drill builds the habit.
What you need: 10 baseballs, a glove, a catcher, a coach to roll comebackers.
Setup: Pitcher on the mound. Catcher behind home. Coach to the side with a bucket of balls.
How to run it:
- Cue: Set, Lift, Stride, Throw. Add: Land in fielding position.
- Pitcher throws a pitch to the catcher.
- Coach immediately rolls a slow ball back at the pitcher (a comebacker).
- Pitcher fields it and throws to first base. Or to home if there’s a runner there.
- Do 10 reps. Some pitches are followed by comebackers, some are not. They have to be ready every time.
What to watch: What happens after the throw. If the pitcher falls off the mound to one side and can’t field a comebacker, the mechanics need work. They should land facing the batter, balanced, glove up.
If they’re struggling: Slow the comebackers. Or skip the throw to first and just have them field cleanly.
If they’ve got it: Mix in pop-ups (ball thrown high near the pitcher) and bunts (ball rolled slowly toward third or first base). Now they have to read the situation.