Batting Order Roles (Leadoff, Cleanup)
Also known as: leadoff hitter, cleanup hitter, batting order roles, batting order spots, lineup roles in baseball, two hole hitter, nine hole hitter
A good leadoff hitter gets on base often, sees a lot of pitches and can run. The top of the order is usually the best on-base hitters. The middle, including the cleanup spot in fourth, holds the best power hitters. The bottom has the weaker bats. Some coaches bat their best hitter second because top spots come up most often.
The leadoff hitter bats first in the first inning. After that, he often leads off innings or bats with the bases empty. That is why getting on base matters more for him than driving in runs.
The cleanup hitter bats fourth. The name comes from the idea that he cleans the bases by driving in the runners ahead of him. Teams usually put a top power hitter here.
Spots near the top of the order get more plate appearances over a season, because the order turns over. So some coaches move their best overall hitter up to the second spot. The ninth spot often goes to a fast hitter who can turn the lineup over.
Tips by skill level
If you bat leadoff, see pitches and get on base. Your job is to start rallies.
Lineup order matters less than who is in the lineup. Put your best hitters near the top so they get the most at-bats.
Example
A coach has a hitter who walks a lot and runs well but has little power. She bats him leadoff. His on-base skills set up the power hitters behind him.
Why it matters
Knowing what each spot asks for helps hitters understand their job. It also helps coaches put the right player in the right spot.
Common mistakes
- Batting a low on-base hitter leadoff because he is fast
- Thinking the leadoff hitter only bats first once
- Ignoring that top spots get more at-bats
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good leadoff hitter?
He gets on base often, works counts and runs well. Getting on base matters more than power in that spot.
What is a cleanup hitter?
It is the hitter who bats fourth. Teams usually put a top power hitter there to drive in the runners ahead of him.
Where should the best hitter bat?
Near the top of the order, because those spots get the most plate appearances. Many coaches bat their best hitter second or third.
Related terms
- On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS)OPS is a hitting stat that adds on-base percentage and slugging percentage. It combines reaching base and hitting for power in one number.
- Walk RateWalk rate (BB%) is the percentage of a hitter's plate appearances that end in a walk. An indicator of plate discipline, pitch recognition, and the ability to take advantage of a pitcher's wildness.
- Isolated Power (ISO)Isolated power (ISO) measures a hitter's extra-base power: slugging percentage minus batting average. You can also figure it as doubles plus twice the triples plus three times the home runs, divided by at-bats. In MLB, about .140 is league average, .200 is great and .250 is excellent.
- Stealing BasesTo steal more bases, win the race before you start sprinting. Take a lead you can safely get back from, learn each pitcher's first move to the plate, and go the instant he commits home. Push off with a quick first step, run straight at the bag without looking back, and slide early to the side away from the tag. In Little League Majors and younger, runners cannot leave until the pitch reaches the batter, so the jump comes from reading the pitch instead.
- Situational HittingSituational hitting is matching a hitter's approach to the count, outs, and runners. Swing decisions, target, and aggressiveness change rather than staying fixed.
Related guides & benchmarks
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