Former NCAA Division I athlete at Marshall University, Coach Melissa Leiler is now the owner of Gaining Ground Outfield. She played all Outfield positions during her tenure at Marshall University and is a dominant, lefty slapper. In 2009, she was ranked in the Top 25 for stolen bases per game. Her expertise is outfield, she believes outfielders are the unsung heroes on a team. Her goal is to change the perspective that coaches, parents, and players have on the outfield positions.

Somewhere along the line, we’ve been fed the myth that the best players are infielders. You should prefer pitcher, shortstop, catcher, third base, second base, and first base (roughly in that order) over anything in the outfield. And if you’re a right fielder? You might as well quit. This is false. If you’re an outfielder, own it. Be proud of it. Be the best outfielder you can be. Your coach and your team will thank you for it. Sure, at the youngest of ages, the outfield positions are mostly for show. The ball only gets there because a grounder got through the (prized) shortstop or was thrown around by one of the infielders. But the older you get, the more outfield matters. And it matters a LOT. Infielders may have the potential to touch the ball more often, but outfielders can make a much bigger impact on the game. Their execution, or lack of execution, is more likely to lead to or prevent multiple extra bases for the opposition at a time. Valuable extra bases. If you’re a coach, value your outfield. Prioritize it. Teach it. Don’t try to “hide” players there because a ball will always find them. Speak of the importance of the outfield so that your players value it, too, and don’t see it as a punishment. Stop assuming that your most skilled defensive players need to be on the infield. It’s an outfield skill that turns singles into outs and extra bases into singles. Converting outs and preventing extra bases are really important to winning. If you’re a player, own it. Be proud of how you don’t let a ball get by you. That you take the best angles. That you always back up your teammates. Take pride in those diving catches and rocket throws, but also take pride in making the more difficult plays look easy and the routine plays look automatic. If you’re a parent, never belittle the outfield position. Don’t make it seem like a negative that your child is playing there (it’s NOT). It may be underappreciated, so you need your child to FEEL appreciated. Help them become the best outfielder they can be. The older they get, the more their skills will be valued.