Baseball Field Positions Numbers

This diagram shows all nine positions on a standard baseball field. Each player marker displays the position abbreviation and its official number. Download the diagram as an image to use in practice handouts, parent orientation packets, or coaching binders.

These numbers stay the same from T-ball through MLB(opens in new tab). A scorekeeper in a Little League game and a broadcaster calling a World Series play both use the same system, which is why learning these numbers once means you can read any baseball scorecard at any level.

Each of the nine positions carries distinct responsibilities. Understanding what each player does on the field helps coaches assign positions based on a player's strengths and helps fans follow the action.

Battery: Pitcher (1) and Catcher (2)

The pitcher and catcher form the "battery," the only two players who are involved in every single pitch. The pitcher (1) stands on the raised mound 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate (46 feet in Little League) and delivers pitches with varying speed, spin, and location. The catcher (2) crouches behind the plate, calls pitches using signs, frames borderline strikes, blocks balls in the dirt, and throws to bases when runners try to steal.

Infield: First Base (3), Second Base (4), Third Base (5), Shortstop (6)

The four infielders handle ground balls, line drives, and pop-ups hit within the dirt portion of the diamond. First base (3) receives the majority of thrown putouts from other infielders. Second base (4) and shortstop (6) cover the middle of the diamond and work together on double plays. Third base (5) is sometimes called the "hot corner" because the ball arrives fast off a right-handed batter's pull swing.

Outfield: Left Field (7), Center Field (8), Right Field (9)

Outfielders cover the grass beyond the infield dirt. Center field (8) is the captain of the outfield with priority on any fly ball they can reach. Left field (7) sees more balls from right-handed batters. Right field (9) needs the strongest throwing arm because the longest throw an outfielder makes is from right field to third base.

Position numbers appear on every scorecard because they describe how outs happen. When a scorekeeper writes "6-3," that means the shortstop (6) fielded the ball and threw to first base (3) for the out. A "6-4-3" double play means shortstop to second baseman to first baseman. These notations let anyone reconstruct exactly what happened on every play after the game ends.

The number after "F" stands for the fielder who caught the fly ball. "F8" means the center fielder caught it; "F7" means the left fielder. "K" marks a strikeout, though it does not use a position number. These abbreviations are standardized across all levels of organized baseball, from Little League(opens in new tab) scorebooks through professional stat sheets.

Youth baseball adds wrinkles to the standard nine-position setup. T-ball and coach-pitch leagues often place a 10th fielder (sometimes called a "short fielder" or "rover") in shallow center field to handle the shorter batted balls that young hitters produce. As players move into kid-pitch leagues, the roster drops to the standard nine positions.

Position Rotation at the Youth Level

Most youth baseball organizations recommend rotating players through multiple positions during the season. A kid who only plays right field never develops the footwork for shortstop or the receiving skills for catcher. Rotation builds a more complete athlete and keeps players engaged. Many rec leagues require that every player plays at least two different positions per game, and some mandate that no player sits the bench for more than one consecutive inning.

Tracking who played where across a full season is one of the hardest parts of youth coaching. Paper lineup cards work for a single game, but over 20 games the data gets lost. For a printable card you can use game by game, see our baseball lineup card templates.

Technically, yes. The designated hitter (DH) is a 10th player who bats in place of the pitcher but does not play defense. The batter is not a defensive position: "batting" describes an offensive role, while the nine numbered positions (1 through 9) are all defensive. MLB adopted the universal DH in 2022, meaning both American League and National League teams now use it. College baseball (NCAA), high school baseball (NFHS), and most youth leagues also allow the DH, though some local house leagues still opt out.

The DH does not have an official position number because the numbering system (1 through 9) refers to defensive positions, and the DH never takes the field. On a lineup card, you write "DH" in the position column. On a scorecard, the DH's at-bats are recorded in the batting order, but no fielding number appears next to their name.

How Many Players on a Baseball Team on the Field?

Nine players take the field on defense at any time. A full MLB roster holds 26 players (expanded to 28 in September), but only nine are on the diamond during play. Youth rosters vary: Little League typically caps at 12 to 15 players (up to 20 in some divisions), while travel ball rosters can run to 18 or more. The extra players rotate in as substitutes or sit in the dugout waiting for their at-bat in continuous batting order leagues.

"Difficulty" means different things depending on whether you measure physical demands, mental complexity, or how much the position affects the game's outcome. The ranking below weighs all three factors together. Coaches at every level generally agree on the top three (catcher, pitcher, shortstop), while the bottom half is more debatable.

At the youth level, these rankings shift. First base is often where coaches put their least experienced fielder, but at higher levels it requires strong footwork, good hands for scooping low throws, and the ability to hold runners. A player who "outgrows" right field may become the team's best first baseman two years later. Position difficulty is a snapshot, not a permanent label.

Knowing the nine positions and their numbers is the foundation of coaching communication. Lineup cards, scorecards, practice plans, and scouting reports all use these numbers as shorthand. The challenge grows when you manage a full roster across a season: tracking who played which position, how many innings at each spot, and whether every player got fair rotation.

Platforms like Striveon let you record player positions alongside evaluation scores from tryouts and practices, so you can see which athletes are developing at each position over time instead of relying on memory.

Is the Number 69 Banned in the MLB?

MLB has no official rule banning jersey number 69. However, it is extremely rare in professional baseball. Only a handful of players have ever worn it in MLB history, and teams generally discourage it. This question comes up often in searches but has nothing to do with field position numbers (1 through 9), which refer to defensive spots, not jerseys. Jersey numbers and position numbers are two completely separate systems.