Who’s on first? Baseball fans (and Abbott and Costello fans) know that this question isn’t easy to answer. The player who just hit the ball is probably the guy on first, but what about 1B — and where do the PH and PR come into play? Baseball position abbreviations help us understand where everyone is, and they’re not as tricky as they seem.
Abbreviations and Numbers for Baseball Field Positions
When one team is at bat, their opponent has nine players in the field. Each of these players holds a different position. For scorekeeping purposes, each of the main baseball positions is written as a standard number instead of an abbreviation.
|
Abbreviation |
Position and Number |
What Do They Do? |
|
P |
Pitcher (1) |
Starts every play by throwing the ball; stands on the pitcher’s mound |
|
C |
Catcher (2) |
Crouches behind home plate to catch pitches |
|
1B |
First Baseman (3) |
Positioned closest to first base |
|
2B |
Second Baseman (4) |
Positioned closest to second base |
|
3B |
Third Baseman (5) |
Positioned closest to third base |
|
SS |
Shortstop (6) |
Plays infield between second and third base |
|
LF |
Left Fielder (7) |
Plays on left side of outfield |
|
CF |
Center Fielder (8) |
Plays the middle of the outfield |
|
RF |
Right Fielder (9) |
Plays on right side of outfield |
|
IF |
Infield |
Square area inside the four bases |
|
OF |
Outfield |
Playing area beyond the bases |
|
SP |
Starting Pitcher |
Begins the game as pitcher |
|
RP |
Relief Pitcher |
Takes over as pitcher |
|
MRP |
Middle Relief Pitcher |
Takes over as pitcher in the middle of the game |
|
LRP |
Long Relief Pitcher |
Relieves SP if he has to leave game early |
|
CL/CP |
Closer/Closing Pitcher |
Comes in for final innings |
Abbreviations for Baseball Hitters and Runners
When your team is up to bat, you’ll send nine players to the plate to take turns swinging at the ball. These batters are placed in a specific order based on their skills, and there are some special names for specific hitting positions too.
|
Abbreviation |
Position |
What Do They Do? |
|
DH |
Designated Hitter |
Player allowed to bat instead of the pitcher |
|
PH |
Pinch Hitter |
Replaces a batter |
|
PR |
Pinch Runner |
Replaces a player on the base and runs for them |
Softball Position Abbreviations
Softball is a modified form of baseball that uses a larger ball, fewer innings, and underhand pitching. Softball uses all the same abbreviations and numbers for the various positions that baseball uses. In many youth and slow-pitch softball leagues, there is also a number 10 position called the Extra Player, or EP.
Fantasy Baseball Positions
If you’re playing fantasy baseball, you might see a few different baseball position abbreviations. These abbreviations usually include a variety of positions for that spot on your team.
|
Abbreviation |
Position |
What Do They Do? |
|
CI |
Corner Infield |
Any first or third baseman |
|
MI |
Middle Infield |
Any second baseman or shortstop |
|
Util |
Utility |
Any non-pitcher |
Swing for the Fences
Baseball’s only fun if the guy on first eventually gets home (if he’s on the team you’re rooting for, that is). Learn more about the journey around the bases with basic baseball stats abbreviations. Curious about how this game even started? Check out these facts about baseball throughout history.