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Athird baseman, abbreviated3B, is the player inbaseball orsoftball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest tothird base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In thescoring system used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5.
Third base is known as the "hot corner", because the third baseman is often theinfielder who stands closest to the batter—roughly 90–120 feet away, but even closer if abunt is expected. Most right-handed hitters tend to hit the ball hard in this direction. A third baseman must possess good hand-eye coordination and quick reactions to catch batted balls whose speed can exceed 120 miles per hour (190 km/h).[1]
The third base position requires a strong and accurate arm, as the third baseman often makes long throws to first base or quick ones tosecond base to start adouble play. As with middleinfielders, right-handed throwing players are standard at the position because they do not need to turn their body before throwing across theinfield to first base.Mike Squires, who played fourteen games at third base in 1982 and 1983, is a very rare example of a third baseman who threw lefty.[2][3] Some third basemen have been converted from middle infielders oroutfielders because the position does not require them to run as fast.
The third baseman must also fieldfly balls infair and foul territories.
Expectations of how well a third baseman should be able to hit have risen over time; in the early years of the sport, these expectations were similar to those forshortstops, the third baseman being merely the less skilled defensive player. Players who could hit with more ability often were not suited for third base, either because they were left-handed or because they were not mobile enough for the position. However, the beginning of thelive-ball era in the 1920s created a greater demand for more offense, and third basemen have since been expected to hit either for a highaverage (.290 or better) or with moderate to substantial power. Since the 1950s the position has become more of a power position with sluggers such asEddie Mathews,Mike Schmidt andRon Santo becoming stars.
There are fewer third basemen in theBaseball Hall of Fame than there are Hall of Famers of any other position. Few third basemen have gone on to have successfulmanaging careers; exceptions includeJohn McGraw,Bobby Cox,Jimmy Dykes, andNegro leaguerDave Malarcher.
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