Short Summary
- Matt Nelly discusses the importance of mastering both one-handed and two-handed plays in baseball, particularly for infielders.
- He shares insights from Juan Rivera, a coach with the Boston Red Sox, on the common prioritization of two-handed plays among youth players.
- Nelly emphasizes the necessity of being skilled in one-handed plays as well.
- Guidelines are provided on when to use each technique: two hands for balls within the body’s frame and one hand for balls outside this area or for specific types of plays.
- Exceptions are noted where one-handed plays may still be necessary, even when the ball is technically within the body’s frame.
- To improve one-handed skills, Nelly introduces a series of drills using a ball and glove or just the hand.
- The drills focus on quickly and efficiently picking up the ball, emphasizing minimal distance between the glove or hand and the ball.
- Nelly stresses the importance of body positioning, keeping the back flat, and ensuring the glove or hand is open and ready to catch.
- The instructor demonstrates handling balls coming off a rebounder, highlighting the need to minimize the distance for effective catching.
- The lesson encourages practicing with varying heights and distances to simulate game scenarios and improve reaction times.
