Relay Throw
Also known as: relay, outfield relay
A relay throw is a ball thrown from an outfielder to a cutoff man who immediately re-throws it to a base — used when the distance is too great for one throw to be accurate and powerful.
On extra-base hits to deep outfield, one throw from the fence to home often dies before reaching the catcher or skips wildly. The relay man (usually middle infielder) sprints to an optimal point — typically 90–110 feet from the eventual target — sets, catches the outfield throw, and fires in one motion. Proper relay execution cuts down runners that a single throw would not. The key skills are the outfielder's ability to hit the relay man on the fly (not bouncing it) and the relay man's ability to turn and throw in a single fluid motion.
Example
A ball rolls to the center-field fence; the shortstop sprints to relay depth, takes the outfield throw in stride, and fires home to nail the runner trying to score.
Related terms
- Cutoff PlayA cutoff play routes an outfield throw through an infielder (the cutoff man) positioned between the outfielder and home plate, allowing the defense to redirect throws or boost accuracy over long distances.
- Outfield DepthOutfield depth is how far outfielders play from home plate. Slow-pitch leagues often allow four outfielders; depth is adjusted based on the hitter's power, the score, and the number of outs.
- Defensive PositioningDefensive positioning is the pre-pitch alignment of all fielders based on the current hitter's tendencies, the game situation, the count, and the score.
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