The suicide squeeze is the boldest play in baseball. Runner on third breaks for home as the pitch is delivered. Batter has to bunt the ball anywhere on the ground. If the batter misses, the runner is dead. Defending it is hard but not impossible.
What you need: A full diamond, a runner on third, a catcher, a pitcher, infielders, a coach to bat.
Setup: Runner on third. Standard infield.
How to run it:
- Coach signals “squeeze” to the runner before the pitch.
- Pitcher delivers. Runner on third breaks for home as soon as the pitcher’s foot lands.
- Best defensive option: pitchout (a pitch high and outside the strike zone) so the batter can’t bunt it. Catcher catches and tags the runner.
- If the bunt is laid down, every infielder charges. Whoever has the ball throws home.
- Do 6 reps. Mix in some pitches that aren’t pitchouts.
What to watch: Did the catcher set up for the pitchout? Or were they in normal position? Reading the runner break is the catcher’s hardest skill.
If they’re struggling: Slow the play down. Walk through the runner break and the pitchout.
If they’ve got it: Add the offense’s counter: a fake squeeze where the runner breaks but the batter takes the pitch. Now the catcher has to read both options.