Double plays are a very common occurrence in a Major League Baseball game, and they can happen in a variety of ways. One of the less common double plays is a 5-6-3 double play. What is a 5-6-3 double play in baseball?
A 5-6-3 double play in baseball occurs when the third baseman (5) throws the ball to the shortstop (6) who is covering second base for the first out, and the shortstop (6) then throws the ball to the first baseman (3) for the second out. This type of double play combination is rare and is most common when the defense is applying an infield shift causing the shortstop to cover second base even on a ground ball to the third baseman.
Normally, when a ball is hit to the left side of the infield and fielded by the third baseman, the second baseman would be responsible for covering second base. But as defensive shifts have become more popular in baseball, there are occurrences now where the shortstop (because he is shifted to the right side of second base) is the player to cover the bag on a ground ball to the left side of the infield.
Because it takes a specific shift play to cause this 5-6-3 double play to occur, it is rarely seen in baseball (but does occur occasionally). In this article let’s take a closer look at a 5-6-3 double play, including why and how it happens, and what other types of double plays are more common.
What is a 5 6 3 Double Play in Baseball?
As we discussed above, a 5-6-3 double play in baseball occurs when the third baseman (5) throws the ball to the shortstop (6) who is covering second base for the first out, and the shortstop (6) then throws the ball to the first baseman (3) for the second out.
As you may already know, when scoring a baseball game, each position is given a number from one-to-nine. The numbers used by position are:
- 1 = Pitcher
- 2 = Catcher
- 3 = First Base
- 4 = Second Base
- 5 = Third Base
- 6 = Shortstop
- 7 = Left Field
- 8 = Center Field
- 9 = Right Field
Why is a 5-6-3 Double Play so Rare in Baseball?
At first glance, a 5-6-3 double play may seem commonplace. It is not.
Under normal defensive alignment, when a ball is hit to the left side of the infield and fielded by the third baseman, it is the second baseman (4) that covers second base, not the shortstop (6). This means that the most common double play combination for a ball hit to the third baseman would be a 5-4-3 double play.
But in recent years, more and more teams have been applying defensive shifts which means the infield defense will overload to either the left or right side of the infield, depending on the tendencies of the batter at the plate. This often causes the shortstop to move from the left side of second base, to the right side of second base (leaving the third baseman alone on the left side of the infield).
This specific scenario has now created times where, when a ball is hit to the left side and field by the third baseman, the shortstop is the closest to second base, and covers the bag (whereas under normal alignment, the second baseman would cover second on a ball hit to the left side of the infield).
In the game of baseball, starting in the early 2000s, two statistics began to stand out above all others: on base percentage (OBP) and Slugging Percentage. Basically, players started trying to hit home runs and drawing walks. This caused many players to become one dimensional in their hitting, oftentimes pulling the ball and almost never hitting to the opposite field.
To adjust to this new hitting style, managers began applying what is known now as a “shift.” As we discussed above, the shift overloads the defense on one side of the infield based on the hitter’s tendencies, and can result in odd double play combinations like this one.
To read about other types of rare double plays in baseball, visit our articles linked below:
Most Common Types of Double Plays in Baseball
A 5-6-3 double play is not one of the most common double play combinations in baseball. The three most common types of double plays in baseball are a 6-4-3 double play, a 4-6-3 double play, and a 5-4-3 double play. Here’s what you need to know about each one:
- 6-4-3 Double Play – In the case of the 6-4-3 combination, the shortstop (6) fields the ball, tosses the ball to the second baseman (4) covering second, who tags the base and throws the runner out at first where the first baseman (3) is covering.
- 4-6-3 Double Play – In the case of the 4-6-3 combination, the second baseman (4) fields the ball, tosses the ball to the shortstop (6) covering second, who tags the base and throws the ball to the first baseman (3) to get the batter out at first.
- 5-4-3 Double Play – The 5-4-3 double play combination is the third most common. This occurs when the third baseman (5) fields the ball, throws the lead runner out at second base with the second baseman (4) covering, and the second baseman throws the batter out at first with the first baseman (3) covering the bag.
Even the fastest players can easily find themselves thrown out at first for a double play when they ground the ball to the shortstop or second baseman, so these plays (6-4-3 and 4-6-3) tend to be the “easiest” for the defense to make.
The double play started by the third baseman (5-4-3) results in a longer initial throw, which means it is a bit more difficult to turn than the other two common types of double plays. Regardless, all three of these double plays are much more common than a 5-6-3 double play in baseball.
Other Baseball Information
For other baseball information, visit our articles linked below: