When watching a baseball game, it may be confusing to see runners sliding into bases. Especially when it seems like running through or to the base would be faster. There are many reasons why runners slide which we will get into detail in this article. So, why do baseball players slide?

The main reason baseball players slide is that sliding helps stop the runner’s momentum from carrying him past the bag. The other reason to slide is to be elusive from a fielder trying to tag you.

There is different logic for the types of slides a baseball player would use depending upon the base they are sliding to which we will cover below.

Why do runners slide into first base?

The main reason runners slide into first base is to avoid a tag from the first baseman if there is a mis-thrown ball from a fielder where the first baseman is not in reach of the bag so tagging is the only option. There are also situations when a lightly hit ball is hit to the right side of the infield and the first baseman or pitcher will try and field the ball and tag the runner which also gives a runner an option to slide into first base.

Sliding into first base is rare and you won’t see it in most games, but it happens from time to time at the Major League Level.

Does sliding in baseball hurt?

Most teams put their players through “sliding practice” where the players get to practice their sliding form on a padded surface so that sliding is second nature come game time.

Without practice, sliding can hurt and players can get major brush burns on their shins and legs if they slide into the ground at the wrong angle.

In high school, fields are not kept up as well as college and professional baseball, so you may run into situations where you go to slide and the infield surface is hard or rocky which could make sliding very painful.

Here is a good video example on some of the best ways to practice sliding:

Should you slide into second base?

If there is a ball hit on the ground and there is a runner on first base in the infield the runner will normally slide into second base. The most common play in this scenario for infielders is to try to get the lead runner out at the second base and if there are less than two outs to complete the double play. With a runner heading to second and a double play on the table, infielders are likely to throw the ball to first base in the same lane the runner from first base is running in.

Even if runners have already been ruled out they will typically slide into second to avoid the baseball from hitting them when it is traveling across the infield.

On deep fly balls, runners sometimes tag from first and try to make it to second where they will slide most times to stop their momentum from carrying them past the bag. If a runner runs past second or third base they could get tagged out and ruled out, which is where sliding helps them maintain contact with the bag to avoid this situation.

Do you have to touch second base on a double play?

Yes, MLB changed the rule in 2016 and middle infielders much touch the second base bag while having possession of the ball.

Prior to 2016, the “Neighborhood Rule” was the norm where players just needed to be in the general proximity of second base while turning a double play. This was never part of the rulebook, but the leeway was granted in an effort to avoid collisions with the runners.

For years at the major league level, sliding runners would use their slide to disrupt attempts at a double play from the middle infielders.

This play resulted in several injuries over the years and MLB made the play reviewable where runners sliding are under encouraged to avoid sliding into the runner and could get thrown out of the game if there is malicious intent.

Here is a video of some of those “Takeout Slides” that we rarely see in today’s games

Is it better to slide head first or feet first?

The most common way to slide is feet first unless you are trying to dodge a tag from the fielder.

Sliding headfirst takes more skill and you will see head-first slides from frequently at the MLB level than in high school or little league baseball.

Sliding headfirst is a little riskier than feet first due to the possibility of either getting one of your fingers stepped on by a fielder with metal cleats or injuring a shoulder or collar bone by colliding into the bag.

Do baseball players slide into home?

Baseball players only normally slide into home when there is an effort to avoid a tag from a catcher. Runners can run past home plate as long as they tag the base so there is not much sliding you will see over the course of the game at home.

Like second base collisions, there used to be a high number of collisions at home plate between the runners and catchers but in 2014 there was a rule change to help avoid players getting injured.

What is an illegal slide in baseball?

An illegal baseball slide is when a runner slides in a rolling manner or pops up slide into the fielder or displays an effort to trip or injure the fielder. When running to second base runners must stay on a straight line on the base path.

With the recent rule changes in baseball, illegal slides are not as common as the last few decades as more players are aware of their health and the respect for other players is higher than ever before

Can you slide into third base?

Yes, you can slide into third base and most players slide into third base if there is a play from the outfield that involves the third baseman.

Sliding can avoid a collision with the third baseman and it can also help prevent running past the bag.

Why do Baseball Players Slide Conclusion

Baseball sliding is a long part of the game and there are different reasons for sliding into the different types of bases. Remember that you can run through first base so there is not much sliding going on at first, while the second and third base will see the most sliding action for the reasons mentioned above.

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