Correct Batting Practice Methods for Minor League Baseball Teams

In my eighteen years as a youth baseball coach, I am always looking for the most efficient practice methods for every aspect of baseball. It took me only a few years to realize that most of the youth baseball coaches and myself were doing batting practice, not incorrectly, but not efficiently. From what I’ve seen with typical batting practice, a coach will pitch a predetermined number of balls to each batter with the fielders fielding the hit balls and throwing them to first base. Typically, the coach will yell something like “run to last out,” and the batter does exactly that. If the ball is an infield hit, they try to get it out early. If he gets hit into the outfield, he usually runs until he gets ejected. All of this is well-intentioned, but it wastes valuable time when a coach wants to run an efficient practice.

This is the most efficient way to do batting practice that I could think of. First of all, let me say this. Batting practice is just what it is, batting practice. Batting practice is not fielding practice or baserunning practice. So all youth coaches and parents should really define what youth batting practice is and what they want to get out of it.

Most of my junior practices last no more than an hour. Every minute of time lost will affect every other aspect and time of any other exercise or technique you want to achieve. The first thing a coach should have is an overabundance of baseballs. The league will provide baseballs, but I always make sure to buy a few dozen extra. I try to work with three dozen and keep an extra dozen in my trunk. And don’t think I’m not frugal in accounting for every baseball at the end of practice. I try to make sure we find everyone, and after practice, we comb the field to make sure we have them all. We usually find extras and end up with more than we started with.

Now, here’s the actual logistics and setup that I do about 95% of the time I run batting practice. I’m a big fan of bunting. I placed two cones on the third base line, about six feet apart, roughly where the bunt is supposed to go. I placed two empty buckets, one about three feet behind second base and the other on the far base of the mound toward second. I have another bucket with the baseballs on the mound within easy reach for me. Now this is a key. As a youth coach who wants a well-directed practice and lots of reps for the kids, I move almost to the front base of the mound to pitch. I do this mainly so I can consistently throw strikes. For safety purposes, an “L” screen from a shorter distance would be required for safety. If your league doesn’t have any, have them get them.

I have the first person at bat with the second and third players ready to go. I have the third batter (or double deck batter) on the outside of the screen hitting balls onto a batting tee using (plastic) pickle balls or wiffle balls with another parent feeding the balls onto the tee. I always have the number 2 hitter, or on deck, ready to hit.

The batter first touches the pitches. For each successful hit, the player receives an extra hit. I usually give a player five strokes in addition to his two touches. So if a player places a bunt between the cones, he gets six regular hits. If he places both bunts between the cones, he gets seven hits (the maximum per batter). Now, there are certain things that have to happen for this to work. Remember that there are two strategically placed buckets. After bunts, as the batter walks away, wherever the ball is hit, the fielder tosses it into the bucket closet. If he is hit into the outfield, he will throw the ball as close to the bucket behind second base as possible. If he hits it to the infield, the fielder will throw it into the bucket behind the pitcher’s mound. Reinforce players that they must shoot the bucket in one or two rebounds or they will tend to play basketball with the baseball and the bucket.

Now the point here is that the fielders don’t make a play at first and the batter doesn’t get the last out. We get more repetitions in a short period of time. Players always face the batter. One might wonder, isn’t this boring for most players on the pitch? Well not really. Due to the number of balls hit in a short period of time, the ball is usually hit from all sides. And the coach pitching batting practice will keep an extra ball or two in his glove and be ready to pitch the next ball right away. When they run out of baseballs, have the players in the infield rush to collect the balls, match the buckets, and we’re ready to start again. This works great!

Batting practice is a favorite of any baseball player at almost every level. Don’t deny batting practice at any practice. And always look for the most efficient and safe procedure to help improve your entire practice.