Editing Baseball field (section)

===Bases===
====First base====
{{main|First baseman}}
[[File:Chris Davis, Kevin Pillar (34422505340).jpg|thumb|right|[[Kevin Pillar]] of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] reaches first base safely as Chris Davis of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] attempts to scoop a bouncing ball thrown by one of the other infielders during a game in May 2017.]] 
First base is the first of the four bases that must be touched by a runner in order to score a run for the batting team. The runner may continue running past first base in a straight line without being in jeopardy of being put out, so long as they make contact with first base and make no move or attempt to advance to second base.

The first baseman is the defensive player mainly responsible for the area near first base. In some youth leagues and adult recreational leagues, a "double first base" or "safety first base" is used. A double first base is rectangular (rather than square), measuring 30 by 15 inches. It is normally colored white and orange (two 15 by 15 inches squares). It is placed with the white half in fair territory and the orange half in foul territory. The white half is used by the first baseman to make plays while the orange half is used by the runner. This creates a separation between the first baseman and runner, reducing the chance of injury on plays at first base.

In the [[Baseball scorekeeping|numbering system]] used to record defensive plays, the first baseman is assigned the number 3.

====Second base====
{{main|Second baseman}}
[[File:Second baseman Brian Dozier trying to turn double play.jpg|thumb|right|[[Brian Dozier]] of the [[Minnesota Twins]] leaps over a sliding [[Jonathan Schoop]] of the Baltimore Orioles attempting to turn a [[double play]].]]
Second base is the second of the four bases a runner must touch in order to score a run. Second base is mainly defended by the second baseman and the [[shortstop]]. The second baseman and shortstop ideally possess quick feet and the ability to release the ball rapidly and accurately. One player will usually cover second base while the other attempts to field the ball. Both players must communicate well to be able to make a [[double play]]. Particular agility is required of the second baseman in double play situations, which usually force the player to throw towards first base while their momentum carries them in the opposite direction.

A runner on second base is said to be in "scoring position", since there is a higher likelihood of scoring a run from second base on a single. Since second base is the farthest from home plate, it is the most commonly [[stolen base]] in baseball.

In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4, and the shortstop 6.

====Third base====
{{main|Third baseman}}
Third base is the third of the four bases a runner must touch in order to score a run. The third baseman is the defensive player mainly responsible for the area nearest third base. A third baseman ideally possesses quick reaction to batted balls and a strong arm to make the long throw to first base. Third base is sometimes referred to as the "hot corner" as it's common for right-handed batters to hit the ball hard to third base, making successfully fielding the ball difficult and possibly dangerous. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5.

Like a runner on second base, a runner on third base is said to be in "scoring position", since there is a higher likelihood of scoring a run on a single or [[sacrifice fly]] provided that the third and final out is not recorded before they can reach home plate.

==== Home base ====
{{redirect|Home plate}}
[[File:Baseball home plate diagram.svg|thumb|Specifications of home plate (inches)<ref name="geospecs">{{cite journal |last1=Bradley |first1=Michael J. |date=February 1996 |title=Building Home Plate: Field of Dreams or Reality? |url=https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=mth_facpub |journal=[[Mathematics Magazine]] |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=44–45 |doi=10.1080/0025570X.1996.11996379 |access-date=20 January 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref>]]
Home base, usually called "home plate", is the final base that a player must touch to score a run. Unlike the other bases, home plate is a [[pentagon|five-sided]] slab of white rubber that is set at ground level.