How to catch a baseball in the outfield when the sun may be a problem

Catching a fly ball is probably one of the most underrated skills in the game of baseball. Even starting as young as Little League, outfielders are expected not to drop a ball hit in the air. But, if you’ve ever watched a Major League Baseball game on television or in person, then you know that fly balls have and will continue to be dropped by the best players to ever set foot on a baseball field. Ohio University head baseball coach Joe Carbone has been the head man of the Bobcats for 18 years. And in his time he’s seen several dropped fly balls by outfielders and said he understands that dropping a fly ball is something that will happen to the best players. But, according to Carbone, there are some techniques a baseball player can practice to help reduce the likeliness of letting the next one get away. “There are two schools of thought on how to catch a fly ball,” he said. “I have some guys who like to get in the habit of fielding on the throwing arm side because they need to throw a guy out and need to get the baseball out of their glove quicker. If a guy is more comfortable on his left side, I let him field on his left side.” Once a baseball player determines which side is more comfortable for him to field a fly ball, the technique is consistently similar for either side, Carbone said. “If it is a normal fly ball, you want to run hard and breakdown (this is for a right hand thrower) with your left foot slightly in front,” he added. “Right foot back and field the ball on either side of your head. If you’re more comfortable fielding it off to the right side above your head, put both hands up, fingers pointing up to the ball. If you’re more comfortable fielding it on your left side the same technique applies.” One of the biggest misconceptions for younger kids is using two hands when catching a fly ball. Of course, there are going to be circumstances where two hands won’t be feasible. But for any fly ball that can be caught with two hands, Carbone suggests that players always do so. Also, using two hands when catching a fly ball can be helpful in situations where the sun may be an obstacle. Carbone said that the sun will always play a part into the game (unless playing a night game or on a cloudy day) so understanding ways to play through the sun will better you game. “First of all, if the sun is out, make sure you have sunglasses on,” he said. “The other thing is when you lose the ball in sun, put your glove to the sun and block the sun out with your glove and don’t panic, look for the ball to come out in the opposite direction that it went in. In other words if the ball went into the sun, which it usually does, above your glove, it is going to come out below your glove. So, just keep the glove up there and fight it and try to get low and do what you can to catch the ball. “Now, if you’re running to make a catch,” he said. “Just keep running to the spot you think it is coming down with your glove up in the sun.”