Equipment Needed
- Balls
- Bases
Keep practice balls on hand
A bucket of practice baseballs keeps this advanced bunt-defense look moving through every scenario.
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- Set the full defense with a specific runner-on-base scenario (e.g., runners on first and second).
- Coach calls the defensive bunt coverage before the play begins.
Instructions
- The corner infielders and pitcher read the called coverage and their specific responsibilities before the pitch.
- On the bunt, each defender executes their assigned job — who fields it, who covers which base, who backs up.
- Complete the defensive play based on the situation: sometimes taking the safe out, sometimes going for the lead runner.
- Reset with different baserunner situations and defensive calls so the group sees multiple bunt-defense looks.
Coaching Points
- The called defensive play should match the game situation — taking the sure out at first is sometimes correct even when a force at a later base seems tempting.
- Every defender needs to know their job before the pitch; a bunt defense with even one confused player usually breaks down.
- The pitcher's read and break toward the ball matters as much as the infielders' technique.
- This is a coaching and communication drill as much as a physical one — walk through assignments verbally before going live.
Variation
Run it against a live hitter who chooses whether or not to actually bunt to test the defense's readiness, or add a squeeze-play scenario for the most advanced version.