How to become a better outfielder and hitter

Question
Deat Rick Bundy,
I am robert Gallagher im 5'6 130lbs and im 16.i have been out of baseball fo 3 yrs but i did play for ten, and i was playing safety for my football team those 3 yrs. I played shortstop and mainly center field on allstars. I do want to play center field again. I still have a good arm and can hit the catcher or cut-off , but i want to b able to play the ball. i also have good speed from playing football those 3 yrs at the safety position.

Also my hitting can use some help. Basically can you tell me the avg. pitching speed for most 15-16 years old kids. I also want to be able to be a better contact hitter and to read pitches. Also what are some good workous so i can drive the ball.

so i was hoping you can tell me some work outs to  throw farther, hit farther, hit the ball a lot more accuratley and to throw accurately. also how to read pitches when im at the plate and how to read a pick off

thnk you

Answer
Robert:  Thank you for the question.  Lets start in the outfield.

1.  Get in a comfortable ready position, maybe not as dramatic a position as you use in football, but similar.  Feet a little wider than shoulder width, drop your throwing side foot back a little, to where your toes are about the middle of your glove side foot.

2.  Keep your hands free, or let them rest on your thighs.  From there you are able to run, without picking up your hands first.  If your hands are on your knees, you must first pick them up before you can take a step, which slows you down.

3.  Don't take a step until you know where the ball is going.  If the ball will be over your head, drop step to the side the ball is on.    

4.  Work hard to "get behind" fly balls, so that you are able to come back to, and through the ball, as you make the catch, providing momentum for whatever throw is required.

5.  On ground balls to either side, work to get around the baseball.  The correct angle is very important.  If you take a straight path to the ball, it can get past you, or should you get to it, your momentum will be going away from the throw you need to make.  Getting around the ball allows you to come back through the ball, directly towards your throwing target, where ever that may be.

6.  On fly balls, catch the ball on your throwing side.  It will make your take up time and release a step or two quicker, as well as keeping all your movements on line towards your target, not across your body.  Each of these little things will add up to more accuracy, more velocity, while providing you the best opportunity to throw out a runner when you need to.

7. On ground balls, field the ball with your glove foot forward.  You need to get your rear end down.  Bend your knees, they will take your glove to the ball and keep your rear end down low.

The best way to work on these skills is to have someone hit you fungos, a lot of them.  Work on all sorts of fly balls, as well as ground balls, you will start to get a feel for the angles you need to take.  You can do all this work without actually making a throw.  That will save your arm, as this work involves a lot of repetitions.  Work on your throwing, in a controlled situation, whereby you limit the number of throws you take.  Even though you aren't throwing, work hard to develop your footwork and mechanics right up to the point of where you would throw the ball.

When you want to work on the throwing, you can lay a plastic garbage can at the base you want to throw to.  Field your fly ball or ground ball, crow hop and throw, looking to 1 hop, long hop, the ball into the can. If you are fortunate enough to have people to work out with, you don't need the can.

Work on perfecting the one hop, long hop.  It will help you develop throwing "through" the cutoff man, not to him.  It is also a ball which is easier for the infielder to make a tag with.  Once perfected, the baseball will pick up speed off the hop.  You also develop a throwing accuracy and control of the ball.

I would suggest that we keep this answer to the outfield portion, and ask that you re-send the hitting portion to me, and I will answer it.

I hope this helps get you started!  If it generates additional questions, please put them in with the hitting question you re-send, and I will answer them.

Good luck!

Yours in baseball,

Rick