Inbaseball andsoftball,second baseman, abbreviated2B, is a fielding position in theinfield, betweensecond andfirst base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, and must be able to make the pivot on adouble play. In addition, second basemen are usually right-handed; only four left-handed throwing players have ever played second base inMajor League Baseball since 1950.^[1] In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4.

Good second basemen need to have very good range since they have to field balls closer to the first baseman who is often holding runners on, or moving towards the base to cover. On a batted ball toright field, the second baseman goes out towards the ball for the relay. Due to these requirements, second base is sometimes a primarily defensive position in the modern game, but there are hitting stars as well.

Second base is often referred to as the "Keystone". This is due to its position on the infield at the top of the diamond, similar to thekeystone block in architecture.^[2]

The second baseman catchesline drives orpop flies hit near them, and fieldsground balls hit near them and then throws the ball to a base toforce out a runner. In this case, if the runner is to be forced out at second base then that base iscovered by theshortstop.

With a runner on first base, on aground ball to the shortstop orthird baseman the second baseman will cover second base toforce out the runner coming from first. Moreover, if there are fewer than twoouts they will attempt to turn thedouble play: that is, they will receive the throw from the other player with their foot on second base (to force out the runner coming from first base), and in one motion pivot toward first base and throw the ball there (to force out thebatter before they get there).

If a runner on first base attempts tosteal second base, or if the pitcher attempts topick off a runner already at second base, then either the second baseman or the shortstop will cover second base.

The following second basemen have been elected to theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum:^[3]

Notes

• Bill Mazeroski: 11
• Nellie Fox: 10
• Bobby Doerr: 9
• Red Schoendienst: 8
• Charlie Gehringer: 7
• Joe Gordon: 7
• Billy Herman: 5
• Jackie Robinson: 4
• Roberto Alomar: 3
• Craig Biggio: 2
• Frankie Frisch: 2
• Rogers Hornsby: 2
• Joe Morgan: 2
• Ryne Sandberg: 2
• Tony Lazzeri: 1
• Bid McPhee: 1

Source: baseball-reference.com^{[Link to precise page]}

• Baseball positions

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