infield

The infield in baseball is the area enclosed by the three bases and home plate. It is also used to refer to the defensive positions of first base, second base, shortstop, and third base, as well as the players who occupy these positions. Infielders are responsible for fielding ground balls and sometimes catching line drives. They work with the pitcher and catcher to prevent runners from advancing or stealing bases. Key defensive plays involving the infield include an "infield out," where a batter is put out by an infielder on a ground ball, and the "infield fly" rule, which is an automatic out declared under specific conditions with runners on base.12345