Editing Second baseman (section)

==Functions==

[[File:Napoleon Lajoie, second baseman for Cleveland.jpg|240px|thumb|[[Nap Lajoie]] was the first second baseman to be inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]].]]

The second baseman catches [[line drive]]s or [[pop fly|pop flies]] hit near them, and fields [[ground ball]]s hit near them and then throws the ball to a base to [[force play|force out]] a runner. In this case, if the runner is to be forced out at second base then that base is [[covering a base|covered]] by the [[shortstop]].

With a runner on first base, on a [[ground ball]] to the shortstop or [[third baseman]] the second baseman will cover second base to [[force play|force out]] the runner coming from first. Moreover, if there are fewer than two [[out (baseball)|outs]] they will attempt to turn the [[double play]]: that is, they will receive the throw from the other player with their foot on second base (to force out the runner coming from first base), and in one motion pivot toward first base and throw the ball there (to force out the [[batter (baseball)|batter]] before they get there).

If a runner on first base attempts to [[stolen base|steal]] second base, or if the pitcher attempts to [[pick off]] a runner already at second base, then either the second baseman or the shortstop will cover second base.