One of the most effective ways to stay sharp and hone your skills when you’re not playing baseball is to perform a series of baseball drills. Drills are designed to work through repetition, so the more you perform drills, the more likely you’ll be able to improve your skill level.

When asked to comment about Derek Jeter’s drilling routine, Jeff Mangold, Yankees strength and conditioning coach said “Whether it’s taking extra BP or doing his strength work, he has developed a great routine that he does day in and day out with incredible focus.”

Stealing Bases
By practicing, the player will develop insight regarding how long it takes them to run from base to base as well as how large of a lead they can take and when to slide. In addition, each drill can usually be broken down into smaller drills, giving the player the ability to hone specific areas of interest, such as diving back to the base safely and the various types of slides.

Bunting down the Line
If you have a hard time bunting down the third base line, you may want to spend some time in the batting cages working on getting the angle of your bat just right.

• Square up
• Angle bat
• Direct ball down the third base line
• Square up
• Angle bat
• Direct ball down the first base line

By performing this drill again and again, you will develop a feeling for how to direct the ball every time.

Fielding the Ball

Improving your fielding abilities will increase your play time and help you avoid simple errors.

• Assume fielding position in front of partner who’s holding ball
• Perform three lateral shuffles to left; catch ball as it’s thrown
• Toss ball back and perform three shuffles right; catch ball as it’s thrown
• Repeat in continuous fashion for specified reps

Jeff Mangold offered a few tips, “Stay low, move quickly and don’t cross your feet. Maintain good balance while moving, catching the ball and tossing it back.”

Performing drills is also a great way to increase the amount of time you play each game if you normal find yourself sitting out innings, because the more you improve your skill level, especially if it involves something unique, such as bunting or pinch hitting, the more powerful you become as a member of the team. For those dedicated to these specific needs, consider breaking down your drills even further so you can perfect your technique and master your game.

The best way to take advantage of your time spent performing baseball drills is to focus on what you include in your regime. If you want to create a basic regime of baseball drills designed to improve your running, batting, and fielding, consider creating a rounded regime with a few drills from each category. If you are more interested in honing your skills as a pitcher however, create a regime that focuses not only on your pitching, but also fielding bunts, grounders, and pop flies. This will increase your skill level specifically as a pitcher, making you a more powerful asset to the team.