Turn Two
Also known as: turning two, turning a double play
"Turn two" is slang for completing a double play, two outs on one batted ball. Most often, a grounder is fed to a middle infielder who pivots and relays to first.
Turning two requires three defenders to execute cleanly in sequence. First, a fielder reads the ground ball and delivers an accurate, well-timed feed. Next, the pivot man at second base catches, redirects, and releases quickly. Last, the first baseman receives the relay in time to beat the batter-runner. A breakdown at any point in the chain turns a double play into a single out or, worse, no outs at all. It might be a bad feed, a rushed pivot, or a throw that pulls the first baseman off the bag.
Turning two depends on a coordinated sequence rather than any one player's individual skill. So doing it reliably is treated as a team defensive strength that is drilled constantly in practice. Feeds from shortstop and feeds from third base require different footwork and timing from the pivot man. Reps at game speed are the only way to build the trust between fielders that a fast, accurate exchange requires.
Example
With a runner on first and one out, the shortstop fielded the grounder, fed the second baseman in stride, and the defense turned two to end the inning.
Why it matters
Turning two reliably is a measurable team defensive skill. Coaches track double-play conversion rate on turnable ground balls to see whether the middle infield combination is developing chemistry.
Common mistakes
- Feeding the pivot man too hard or too soft relative to the runner's position, forcing an off-balance pivot
- Rushing the front end of the play (the initial fielding and feed) so much that the pivot man never has a clean, catchable throw
- Failing to recognize when a double play is not there and settling for the sure out at second instead of forcing a play at first that gets neither out
Frequently asked questions
Where does the phrase "turn two" come from?
It refers to turning one batted ball into two recorded outs. The double play — a shorthand baseball players and broadcasters use for the entire feed-pivot-relay sequence.
Related terms
- Double Play PivotThe double play pivot is a middle infielder's footwork at second base to catch a throw and fire it to first. It must be quick and avoid the sliding runner.
- Relay ThrowA relay throw breaks one impossible outfield throw into two makeable ones. An infielder runs out to take the first leg, then turns and throws the second.
- Cutoff ManThe cutoff man is the infielder who sets up in a direct line between an outfielder and the base under threat, ready to intercept the ball and redirect it if the original target is no longer the best play.
- Ball TransferBall transfer is the exchange of the ball from glove to throwing hand. Its speed and consistency are among the biggest separators for infielders and catchers.
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