Baseball Position Numbers Explained

If you’ve ever watched a baseball broadcast and heard the announcer call out “6-4-3 double play!” — that’s the position numbering system at work. Every defensive spot on a baseball field has a number from 1 to 9, and those numbers are used universally for scorekeeping, scouting reports, and shorthand communication at every level from Little League through MLB.

Here’s the complete list of baseball positions by number, the diamond diagram showing where each player stands, and the answer to the question every parent eventually asks: why does the shortstop wear number 6 when third base is number 5?

All 9 baseball positions, numbered

The 9 baseball positions and their numbers

The numbering system is fixed and never changes. Whether you’re at a 7-year-old’s tee-ball game or Game 7 of the World Series, these numbers mean the same thing:

• 1 — Pitcher (P)
• 2 — Catcher (C)
• 3 — First Baseman (1B)
• 4 — Second Baseman (2B)
• 5 — Third Baseman (3B)
• 6 — Shortstop (SS)
• 7 — Left Fielder (LF)
• 8 — Center Fielder (CF)
• 9 — Right Fielder (RF)

The full reference chart with each position’s responsibilities:

[INSERT POSITIONS CHART HERE]

Why shortstop is 6, not 5 (the most common question)

This trips up almost everyone who tries to memorize the numbers logically. The infield numbers go around clockwise starting at first base — 1B is 3, 2B is 4, 3B is 5 — so by that pattern, the shortstop between second and third should be number 5, and third base should be 6. But it’s flipped.

The reason is historical. When the numbering system was developed in the 1860s, the shortstop was originally a fourth outfielder who roamed the shallow grass to handle short fly balls (hence the name “shortstop” — short fielder). When the position eventually moved permanently to the infield between second and third base, the original number 6 designation just stayed. Third base kept its number 5 because it had been there first.

So the shortstop is technically out of sequence with the rest of the infield numbering, and there’s no way to make it logical — you just have to memorize that SS is 6.

How the numbers are used in scorekeeping

The whole reason these numbers exist is for scorekeeping shorthand. Instead of writing “groundball to shortstop, who threw to second base, who threw to first base for a double play” — which takes forever — a scorekeeper writes “6-4-3 DP.” Three characters captures the entire play.

Here’s how to read common scorekeeping notation:

• 6-3 — Groundball to shortstop, threw to first base for the out
• 4-3 — Groundball to second baseman, threw to first base for the out
• 5-3 — Groundball to third baseman, threw to first base (this throw is the longest in the infield)
• 6-4-3 DP — Double play: shortstop to second baseman to first baseman
• 4-6-3 DP — Double play started by the second baseman
• F8 — Fly out caught by the center fielder
• L7 — Line drive caught by the left fielder
• P3 — Pop-up caught by the first baseman
• K — Strikeout (this one doesn’t use a number)
• BB — Walk (base on balls)

If you can read these notations, you can reconstruct an entire game from a scorecard months or years later. That’s the power of the system, and it’s why it has survived basically unchanged for over 150 years.

Position by position breakdown

1 — Pitcher

The pitcher starts every play by delivering the ball to the catcher. Once the ball is hit, the pitcher becomes a fielder — responsible for grounders hit back to the mound, covering first base on balls hit to the right side of the infield, and backing up throws to home plate. At higher levels of baseball, pitchers are highly specialized and rarely play other positions, but in youth baseball almost every kid gets a turn on the mound.

2 — Catcher

The catcher squats behind home plate and receives every pitch the pitcher throws. They call the pitches (signaling fastball, curveball, etc.), block balls in the dirt to keep runners from advancing, throw out runners trying to steal bases, and serve as the on-field general for the defense. Catcher is widely considered the most physically and mentally demanding position in baseball. Most catchers wear protective gear including a mask, chest protector, and shin guards.

3 — First Baseman

The first baseman covers first base and receives the majority of throws from other infielders trying to put runners out. Their primary skill is catching throws — especially bad ones — while keeping a foot on the bag. First basemen need excellent reflexes for line drives hit at them, but they typically don’t need the range of a middle infielder. Most first basemen are taller than average and many are left-handed (a lefty’s natural throwing motion makes throws to second base easier).

4 — Second Baseman

The second baseman covers the right side of the infield, working with the shortstop to turn double plays. They’re responsible for grounders hit to their area, fielding bunts, and acting as the cutoff man on throws from right field. Second basemen don’t need the strongest arm — the throw to first is short — but they need quick hands and good footwork around the bag.

5 — Third Baseman

Third base is called “the hot corner” because right-handed batters tend to pull hard ground balls and line drives down the third base line. The third baseman needs lightning reflexes, a strong arm for the long throw across the diamond to first base, and the ability to charge bunts and barehand them when needed. It’s one of the most reactive positions on the field — there’s almost no time to think.

6 — Shortstop

The shortstop is usually the best athlete on the field. They cover the most ground in the infield, ranging from deep behind second base to deep behind third base. They need exceptional range, a strong throwing arm, quick hands, smart positioning, and leadership skills. The shortstop and second baseman together form the “middle infield” and turn the majority of double plays. Most professional shortstops are also strong hitters because the position attracts the best overall athletes.

7 — Left Fielder

The left fielder patrols the left side of the outfield, tracking down fly balls and line drives. They have the shortest throw of the three outfielders to most bases (especially third), so left fielders typically have the weakest arms of the three outfield positions. This is often where teams put a player who hits well but has limited defensive range — Manny Ramirez and Ted Williams are classic examples.

8 — Center Fielder

The center fielder is the captain of the outfield. They cover the most ground because center field is the deepest part of most ballparks, and they have authority to call off the corner outfielders on any ball they can reach. Speed is the most important attribute — center fielders are typically the fastest players on the team. Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr., and Willie Mays are all-time examples of the position.

9 — Right Fielder

Right fielders need the strongest throwing arms of the three outfield positions because they’re responsible for the longest throw in the outfield: a runner tagging up at second base trying to advance to third on a fly ball requires a throw all the way across the field. Right field is also where many sluggers play because the position requires power hitting and a cannon arm. Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, and Hank Aaron are right-field examples.

Common youth league variations

Standard baseball uses 9 defensive players, but some youth leagues add a 10th fielder:

Tee-ball and coach-pitch leagues sometimes use a “short fielder” or “rover” — an extra outfielder who plays in shallow center field to handle the short pop-ups and weakly-hit balls that young players produce. This 10th fielder doesn’t have an official position number because they only exist in beginner leagues, but coaches sometimes informally call them “10.”

Once players move into kid-pitch baseball (typically around age 9 or 10), the roster drops to the standard 9 defensive players and stays that way through high school, college, and pro ball.

The designated hitter — why there’s no number 10

The designated hitter (DH) is a 10th player who bats in place of the pitcher but never plays defense. Because the position numbering system is purely defensive, the DH doesn’t get a number. On a lineup card, you write “DH” in the position column. On a scorecard, the DH’s at-bats are recorded but no fielding number ever appears next to their name.

MLB adopted the universal DH in 2022, meaning both leagues now use it. NCAA, high school, and most youth leagues also allow it — though some local rec leagues opt to have pitchers hit for themselves.

Position numbers in softball vs. baseball

Softball uses the exact same position numbering system as baseball: pitcher 1, catcher 2, first base 3, second base 4, third base 5, shortstop 6, left field 7, center field 8, right field 9. The numbers translate directly between the two sports.

Some slowpitch softball formats add a 10th defensive player called a “short fielder” who plays between the infield and outfield, similar to the youth baseball rover. This position is informally called “10” or “SF” but isn’t part of the standardized numbering used in fastpitch.

Why these numbers matter even if you’re not keeping score

Even if you never plan to fill out a scorecard, knowing the position numbers makes baseball much easier to follow:

• Broadcasters and analysts use them constantly (“a classic 5-3 putout”)
• Coaches use them in shorthand instructions during games
• Scouting reports and statistics are organized by position number
• Baseball reference sites like Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs use the numbers throughout
• If you ever check a box score or play-by-play, the numbers appear everywhere

For parents whose kids are just starting baseball, learning the numbers is a quick way to start sounding knowledgeable. Within one game of using them, you’ll feel like you understand what’s happening at a deeper level.