6 Hole (Six Hole)

The 6 hole refers to the gap between the shortstop (position 6) and the third baseman (position 5) on a baseball or softball field. When a ball is hit "through the 6 hole," it means it traveled through this gap and into left field.

Understanding Position Numbers

In baseball scorekeeping, each position has a number:

• 1 = Pitcher
• 2 = Catcher
• 3 = First Baseman
• 4 = Second Baseman
• 5 = Third Baseman
• 6 = Shortstop
• 7 = Left Fielder
• 8 = Center Fielder
• 9 = Right Fielder

The "Holes" on the Field

The infield has several gaps or "holes":

• 5-6 Hole (or 6 Hole): Between third base and shortstop
• 4 Hole: Between shortstop and second baseman
• 3-4 Hole: Between second baseman and first baseman

Hitting Through the 6 Hole

For right-handed batters, hitting through the 6 hole is a common strategy because:

• It's the natural direction for a pulled ground ball
• The shortstop has the longest throw to first base
• The gap can be exploited when the shortstop shades toward second

Defensive Strategy

Teams will often shift to close the 6 hole against pull hitters, moving the shortstop closer to third base to cut off ground balls through this gap.