![]() "That might mean sitting in an empty row or sitting at the end of the row so you can move up or down. "To catch any batted ball, I think the key is to not be trapped in the middle of a row," Hample said. The most important strategy is the freedom to move. That is really the best angle for foul balls for a right-handed batter."įlip this, he said, for a left-handed batter. "The way I describe it is for a right-handed batter, what you do is draw an imaginary line from the left fielder through home plate and back up into the stands, and you will have a point picked out that is slightly shaded to the first-base side of home plate. Where a batter may be most likely to slice one. To catch a foul ball, don't necessarily think down the lines, think area. Resist the temptation to play up front and make sure you have some room." Location, location, locationĬonsider this when buying tickets. "If it's about 370 and the front rows are crowded, hang out in the 12th row, because you're still going to be about 400 feet, and that's easy for major-league hitters. ![]() If you start to get beyond 400 feet, the odds are against me. I always hang back at least a few rows where it is emptier, and I try to be smart and consider how far it will be for a ball to reach me. But the front row is always the most crowded row, and you can't seem to move. I guess people are thinking that no one can reach in front of them if the ball is hit to them. "The temptation for a lot of people is to stand right in the front row because you can see the field. "I try to avoid being right down the line, because not as many balls are hit in that direction. "I would recommend playing in straightaway left or right field or left or right center," he said. Once batting practice starts, it's all about avoiding people. Or a player might throw a baseball to the first person who asks." "You can always get in 90 minutes early, and I would recommend being there even before that and lining up so you can hurry inside," Hample said. "Sometimes you'll find a baseball in the seats. ![]() Most parks open at least 90 minutes before first pitch. Hample broke down his strategy for USA TODAY Sports. Want to improve your chances? Take some advice from Zack Hample, who has snagged around 9,800 baseballs since 1990, including Barry Bonds' 724th career home run and Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th hit (a home run). It's one of the best parts about going to a baseball game - the possibility of catching a ball in the stands.īut fans can attend hundreds of games and not come close to a ball. Watch Video: Dog delivers water to thirsty umpires
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