Rawlings Elite
Playbook – Defensive Situations
1.
Sacrifice Bunt Defense
a. Runner at First Base
b. Runner at Second Base
c. Runners at First and Second Base
d. Wheel Play
i. Wheel Play Pickoff
Sacrifice Bunt Defense ~
Everybody Has A Job ~ If You Aren't Moving, You Should Be!
In the game of baseball, when the hitter squares to bunt, the sacrifice bunt defense springs into action.
All 9 players on the defense have a specific job to do, some have a second responsibility depending on which player ends
up fielding the ball.
The major rule in this situation becomes, get an out somewhere. While erasing the lead runner is always desirable, more
often than not the recorded out will be the batter/runner.
In this situation, the offense is willing to give up an out to move the runner into scoring position. The defense needs to
take that out. The situation becomes increasingly complicated when no out is recorded; there are now two or three
runners and still no outs.
When all 9 players are on the same page, moving confidently to their responsibilities, communicating on the run, it is a
thing of beauty, and one mark of a confident team.
The biggest factor in all sacrifice bunt defense is communication and decisiveness on the part of the players. A moment of
indecision or the failure to communicate where the ball should be thrown most often results in all runners safe and the
possibility of a defensive meltdown.
Sacrifice Bunt With Runner At First Base ~
Look For The Play On The Lead Runner First!
P: Has bunts up the third base side and in front of the mound. If the 3B fields the bunt, the pitcher goes to cover 3B.
C: Has balls out in front of the plate, as well as making the call as to where the play is going. Look to backup first base, in
case there is a DP attempt.
1B: Holds runner on, breaks on the pitch, responsible for balls bunted up the first base side.
2B: Covers first base.
SS: Covers second base.
3B: Reads the bunt, covers 3B, unless the ball is bunted on the third base side, where the pitcher will not be able to field
it. He must then make a quick decision and come field the bunt.
LF: Comes in behind 3B to backup a possible throw from first base to third, should the runner from 1B keep going.
CF: Heads straight for 2B, to backup the possible throw to second.
RF: Comes to the right field line to backup the throw to first base.
Player fielding the bunt should look to get the lead runner, if he can't, get the out at first.



SS, turn the double play if there is any chance at all.
Outfielders need to hustle to their backups, it will be the difference on a bad throw, whether the runner advances
another base, or not.
As with all defensive situations, success is all about decisiveness and confidence.
Sacrifice Bunt With Runner At Second Base ~
A High Level Of Communication Between The Third Baseman and Pitcher Is Essential!
P: Responsible for bunts up the third base side, if 3B fields bunt pitcher goes to 3B.
C: Fields anything he can get to out in front of the plate, and makes the call as to where the play is going to.
1B: Holds runner on first, crashes on the pitch, has responsibility for balls bunted up the first base side.
2B: Cover 1B. If the throw comes to 1B, look to third base right away. You may have an opportunity to back pick on an
extra wide turn, or the runner may just keep on going. Be ready!
SS: Works the runner at second, goes to second on the bunt.
3B: In this defense, the 3B is responsible to remind the pitcher to get the third base side. If the pitcher does not field the
bunt, but the third baseman does, pitcher goes to third base.
LF: Comes hard towards 3B to backup.
CF: Comes hard towards 2B.
RF: Comes to the right field line to back up throw to first base.



Decisive communication between the 3B and the P is essential.
o If the pitcher fields the bunt, 3B must get back to third.
o If the 3B fields the bunt, P goes to 3B.
The decision on whether to field this bunt is the hardest decision a 3B will have to make.
o In general, if the ball is close to the 3B line, come and get it.
o If it is bunted hard, come and get it.
SS concentrates on keeping the runner at 2B close. If successful, the opportunity is there to get the out at 3B.
Sacrifice Bunt With Runners At First And Second!
While the player assignments are essentially the same as with a runner on second, there are subtle changes created
within the play, due to the extra runner.
P: Responsible for bunts up the third base side, if 3B fields bunt pitcher goes to 3B.
C: Fields anything he can get to out in front of the plate, and makes the call as to where the play is going to.
1B: Holds runner on first, crashes on the pitch, has responsibility for balls bunted up the first base side.
2B: Cover 1B. If the throw comes to 1B, look to third base right away. You may have an opportunity to back pick on an
extra wide turn, or the runner might just keep on going. Be ready!
SS: Works the runner at second, goes to second on the bunt.
3B: In this defense, the 3B is responsible to remind the pitcher to get the third base side. If the pitcher does not field the
bunt, but the third baseman does, pitcher goes to third base.
LF: Comes hard towards 3B to backup.
CF: Comes hard towards 2B.
RF: Comes to the right field line to back up throw to first base.

With a force at 3B, this situation provides the opportunity to turn the DP on a sharply bunted ball.

With two runners instead of one, the catcher's decision becomes more complicated. Read it, be decisive and move
ahead!
Sacrifice Bunt Wheel Play ~
When Getting The Out At Third Base Is Essential!
This defense, used with a runner at second base, or first and second, provides a different look to the offense, mostly when
it is essential to get the out at third base.
P: Waits to throw until the SS breaks for 3B, otherwise the runner can beat SS to the base. Pitcher is then responsible for
the bunt in front of the mound.
C: Fields anything he can get in front of the plate, and also makes the call as to where the play is going.
1B: Crashes and has any bunt up the first base side.
2B: Cover first base.
SS: Keep runner close at 2B, then starts the wheel play by breaking for 3B.
3B: Crashes on pitch.
LF: Backup 3B.
CF: Come hard to 2B, may be able to back pick the runner from first.
RF: Backup throw to 1B.

Quite often the outfield responsibilities get overlooked in sacrifice bunt defenses.

A bad throw, with two runners on and no outfielder backup, is going to score two runs and leave, at a minimum,
a runner in scoring position at 2b.

That becomes very demoralizing to the defense. The outfield backup can keep the second run from scoring and
possibly keep the batter runner off 2B, making a big difference in what happens to their mental state.

The SS starts this play in motion when he breaks for third base. That signals the pitcher to deliver to the plate. Work the
runner back, then break quickly off his hip straight to 3B.

With runners on first and second, the defense needs to remember that there is no one at 2B on the bunt, options are
only 3B or 1B.


Second base becomes an option after the put out, with a possible back pick to the CF.
Defense starts with the idea they are going to get the out at third, and looks there first. If it isn't there, ball goes to first.
There is no one covering second on this play, basically everything has been committed to getting the lead runner at 3B.
Wheel Play Pickoff
This pickoff runs directly off the same action as the bunt defense.
Defensive team needs to make the base runner believe the wheel play is on. Good base runners will get back out into
their secondary as the shortstop heads for 3B, with the pick taking advantage of his movement.
This pickoff is a great surprise move, which can be a game and momentum changer, when executed correctly.
P: Looks back at runner, turns head back to home plate when SS breaks for 3B. Counts 1001, 1002 ~ turns and throws to
second base.
C: Stays at home plate, looking to receive a pitch.
1B: Crashes the plate, yelling bunt.
2B: Breaks to 2B, when the SS clears the runner on his way to third.
SS: Shadows runner, then breaks off his right hip, running hard for third.
3B: Crashes plate, yelling bunt.
LF: Heads to foul line to backup 3B, in the event there becomes a rundown situation.
CF: Backs up 2B.
RF: Heads towards 2B.