Ever wonder why the shortstop is a 6 while the third baseman—who literally stands right next to him—is a 5? It feels weirdly random. If you’re sitting in the bleachers at a Big League game and see a guy scribble "6-4-3" into a notebook after a ground ball, he isn’t writing down a secret bank PIN. He’s recording a double play.
Baseball field position numbers are the shorthand of the game. It’s a language.
Honestly, the system is so baked into the sport that most players don’t even think about the logic anymore. They just know. But for everyone else, the numbering doesn’t follow the "natural" flow of the diamond. You’d think the numbers would just follow the bases in order, right? 1, 2, 3, 4? Nope. Baseball likes to be difficult. The system we use today was largely popularized back in the late 19th century as a way for newspaper reporters to transmit game details via telegraph without paying for every single word. Numbers were cheaper than names.
The Battery: Where Everything Starts
The battery consists of the pitcher and the catcher. They are 1 and 2.
The pitcher is Number 1. This is the only one that actually makes sense to most people because the play begins with him. He’s the focal point. When a pitcher snags a line drive and tosses it to first, that's a 1-3 putout in your scorebook. Simple.
Then you have the catcher at Number 2. He’s the general. He sees the whole field. Behind the plate, crouched in the dirt, the catcher is the anchor of the defense. It’s a brutal job. According to data from Baseball-Reference, catchers handle more individual "chances" than almost anyone else on the field, yet their numbering is just the start of the defensive sequence.
The Infield Scramble and the Shortstop Anomaly
This is where things usually get messy for newcomers. You’d expect the infield to go in a circle. It doesn't.
First base is Number 3.
Second base is Number 4.
Third base is Number 5.
💡 You might also like: NFL Scores: Why the Numbers From Wild Card Weekend Actually Matter
Wait. Where is 6?
The shortstop is Number 6.
Historically, the shortstop wasn’t even considered a true infielder in the early days of "Town Ball" and the Knickerbocker rules. He was more of a "rover" who played wherever he was needed, often shallow in the outfield to help relay throws. Because he was an "extra" man, he got tacked on after the primary basemen were numbered. So, you go around the horn—3, 4, 5—and then jump back to the gap between second and third for 6.
It's clunky. It's old. It works perfectly.
Think about a standard "4-6-3" double play. The second baseman (4) flips it to the shortstop (6) who then fires it to the first baseman (3). If you look at a diamond, that forms a little triangle of defensive efficiency. If we used names instead of baseball field position numbers, scorecards would be a cluttered disaster of illegible ink.
The Outfield: Left to Right
Once you leave the dirt, the numbering finally decides to be logical. You just read from left to right as if you’re looking at the field from home plate.
- Left Field is 7.
- Center Field is 8.
- Right Field is 9.
There’s a specific kind of beauty in an 8-2 putout. That’s a center fielder gunning down a runner at home plate. You don't see it often. When it happens, the stadium explodes.
Interestingly, some modern "shift" strategies have messed with where these guys actually stand. When a team puts three players on the right side of the infield to stop a pull-hitter like Joey Gallo or Bryce Harper used to face constantly, the "position" is more about the player's role than their physical coordinates. Even if the shortstop (6) is standing in shallow right field, he is still "6" on the scorecard.
Why the DH Doesn't Get a Number
You won't find a 10 on a standard scorecard.
The Designated Hitter (DH) has changed the game since the American League adopted it in 1973, and now that it’s universal in MLB, it’s a permanent fixture. But the DH doesn't have a defensive number because he doesn't have a defensive position. In a scorebook, he’s usually just "DH."
If a pitcher moves to the outfield (which almost never happens in the pros but is common in high school), he switches from 1 to whatever outfield spot he takes. The numbers are tied to the dirt, not the jersey.
Common Misconceptions About the Numbers
A lot of fans confuse jersey numbers with position numbers. They aren't the same. While a few players have tried to match them—like some catchers wearing #2—it's rare.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Game Pass Overseas: Why the Move to DAZN Changed Everything for Fans
Another big one: the "extra" infielder. In slow-pitch softball, you often have 10 players. That tenth player is usually a "short fielder" or a fourth outfielder. In those specific scorekeeping communities, they might use the number 10, but in the world of Hardball, the buck stops at 9.
Practical Application: How to Use This Knowledge
If you want to actually use baseball field position numbers, start small. Don't try to score an entire 9-inning game your first time out. You'll lose track by the third inning and get frustrated.
- Watch the middle infielders. Notice how the 4 and the 6 communicate on a ball hit up the middle.
- Listen to the announcers. They often say things like, "That's a routine 5-3." Now you know that's just a grounder to third base.
- Learn the shorthand for "Outs." A strikeout is a 'K.' A flyout to center is 'F8.' A line drive to the shortstop is 'L6.'
The nuances of the game become way more apparent once you stop seeing a mass of players and start seeing a numbered grid. It’s like seeing the code in The Matrix. You start to realize that a 6-3 putout isn't just an out; it's a testament to the shortstop's range and the first baseman's ability to stretch.
Beyond the Basics: The Nuance of the Shift
Major League Baseball recently implemented rules to limit extreme shifts, requiring two infielders to be on either side of second base. This actually preserved the integrity of the numbering system. Before the rule change, you’d sometimes see the second baseman (4) playing in short right field while the shortstop (6) played on the "wrong" side of second base. It made scorekeeping a headache.
Now, the traditional 1 through 9 layout is more visually accurate than it has been in a decade.
💡 You might also like: Sprint Car Paint Schemes: Why Some Cars Just Look Faster Than Others
Next Steps for Mastering the Field
To truly internalize these numbers, grab a blank scorecard at the next local high school or minor league game you attend. Focus specifically on the 6-4-3 and 4-6-3 double plays, as these are the most common multi-number sequences you'll need to record. Once you can reflexively identify a "P5" (pop out to third) versus an "F7" (fly out to left), you’ll find that you’re watching the defensive setup of the game with much more intentionality. Keep a cheat sheet in your wallet or on your phone for the first few games until the "Shortstop is 6" rule becomes second nature.