Eyes Up: The Art of Scanning in Baseball
In baseball, the difference between a routine play and a game-changing moment often comes down to what a player sees before the ball is in play. Just like a midfielder in soccer scans the field, elite baseball players constantly gather information—checking runners, defensive alignments, and situational cues—to make smarter, faster decisions.
This scanning happens across the field of play, but we’re going to focus specifically on baserunners and their use of scanning. On the basepaths, players are consistently scanning the field as they make baserunning decisions. By putting our attention on a player’s field of vision, we can start to understand the decisions they make and how they arrive at those decisions in real-time. Scanning is essentially the player’s viewpoint of the field of play as they process information and act.
An article in The Athletic about scanning in soccer, highlighting players like Messi, Xavi, and Lampard, shows how this skill directly applies to baseball. While the sports differ physically, the cognitive skill of scanning—gathering and processing information—remains equally crucial. I think it is important to highlight the potential idea in how it relates to Baseball along with some examples of it and how we can potentially coach it in players.
Adding vocabulary to ideas is important because it gives us a shared language to discuss, teach, and refine complex concepts. When we can clearly name and define what players are doing—like "scanning" in this case—it becomes easier to break those actions down, analyze them, and provide specific feedback. Without clear terminology, coaching can become vague, relying on general instructions rather than targeted guidance. By putting a name to the skill, we create a foundation for consistent teaching, meaningful conversations, and measurable improvement. In short, vocabulary doesn’t just describe what’s happening—it sharpens our ability to coach it effectively.
Specifically, what a player looks at gives us valuable insight into their mindset and what they’re basing their decisions on. Their eyes act as a window into their thought process, revealing what cues they prioritize and how they’re interpreting the situation in front of them.
Let’s examine three interesting example as we get going:
Jesse Winker Gets Back-Picked by the Dodgers
In this play, as Jesse Winker decides whether to advance to third base or not, you can see him turning his head toward center field and then back and forth across the field of play, gathering as much information as possible. It’s a decent example of in-game scanning.
The video doesn’t go back far enough, but it would be interesting to see what he was looking at as he approached second base. From what we can observe, Winker takes a late peek toward Hernandez in center field as he approaches the bag. Perhaps this look came too late to properly inform his decision.
If we can help refocus players’ eyes on what they’re looking at and when they’re looking, we can improve their ability to make smarter, faster baserunning decisions. And ultimately, that’s what we should be aiming to do.You can see in this play as Jesse Winker is making his decision to advance to 3rd or not that he is turning his head toward CF and then back and forth on the field of play to gather as much information as he can. Decent example here. The video doesn’t go back far enough, but I would be interested in see what he was looking at while he approached 2nd Base. From the video we get a late peek toward Hernandez in CF as Winker is approach the bag, but maybe this is too late of a look prior to making his decision. If we an help refocus players eye on what they are looking at and how it can help them make better decisions then this is what we should be aiming to do.
Cowser Eyes Up For Catch and Tag
One of my favorite videos for studying how players process information is a play where you can see the decision-making happening in real time. It’s a perfect example of how scanning works under pressure and how critical it is to baserunning success.
In this scenario, we have a runner on first base, Colton Cowser at third base, and Ryan Mountcastle at first with one out in the inning. As the play unfolds, Cowser’s attention to detail is on full display.
When the ball is hit to the outfield, Cowser immediately locks his focus on the left fielder, his head swiveling to track the fielder as the ball is caught. This initial scan is crucial—it helps Cowser assess the left fielder’s position, momentum, and whether there’s an opportunity to advance.
But what makes this play particularly fascinating is what happens next. As Cowser begins his approach to home plate, his head moves again—this time to pick up the runner on first base. This secondary scan provides Cowser with additional layers of information:
Is Mountcastle advancing to second?
Is the throw from the outfield coming to the cutoff man or directly home?
Are there any signs of hesitation or missteps from the defense that he can exploit?
Cowser isn’t just running—he’s processing. Every head turn is intentional, every glance is purposeful, and each scan is feeding him data to make the most informed decision possible.
This play highlights the art of real-time scanning in baseball. Cowser isn’t reacting blindly; he’s actively gathering and interpreting information to make a high-stakes decision on the basepaths. It’s a reminder that great baserunning isn’t just about speed—it’s about seeing the play unfold, understanding what’s happening, and acting with conviction.
Yordan Alvarez Scores on a Loose Ball
This play featuring Yordan Alvarez is an excellent example of how scanning and maintaining situational awareness can create opportunities that most players might overlook.
The play starts with a ball hit to the left fielder, where the throw comes into the second baseman who attempts to field it and begins to make a play on the runner advancing to second base. At this point, many baserunners on third might mentally check out, assuming the play is isolated at second base. But not Alvarez.
What stands out here is Yordan’s discipline to keep his eyes up and his head moving. As the play develops, Alvarez doesn’t lock his focus on one spot. Instead, he tracks the ball, assesses the second baseman’s body positioning, and watches the developing situation unfold.
When the second baseman bobbles the ball, Alvarez is already prepared to act. His head snaps back toward home plate, and without hesitation, he breaks for home. This isn’t just hustle; it’s informed hustle. Alvarez isn’t running blindly—he’s running because he’s processed enough information to know he has a window to score.
The High Home Angle offers a perfect perspective on this moment. From this vantage point, you can see Alvarez’s scanning in action:
His head is focuse don the second play at 2nd base.
He quickly processes the mishandled throw.
He assesses where the throw is going to be coming into.
He sees it go towards 2nd Base and he then pivots his head and looks toward 2nd for any potential misplay.
Finally, he commits to advancing without hesitation.
This sequence underscores a crucial point: scanning doesn’t stop just because the initial play seems over. Alvarez doesn’t assume the ball will be secured cleanly or that the defense will flawlessly execute the play. He stays mentally engaged and physically ready, turning what could have been an uneventful hold at third base into a run on the scoreboard.
Plays like this highlight how scanning isn’t just about looking—it’s about interpreting. Alvarez’s head turns weren’t random; they were purposeful checks, each feeding him real-time information.
If we can teach players to stay engaged, keep scanning even when the play seems finished, and trust their instincts based on the information they’ve gathered, we’ll see more game-changing moments like this one. This play isn’t just about physical ability—it’s about awareness, anticipation, and decisiveness.
Scanning isn’t just a skill—it’s a habit that helps players turn routine plays into big moments. The more they learn to see what’s happening around them and stay ready to act, the better their decisions will be. And in baseball, those little decisions can add up to a big difference.
That’s why adding vocabulary to ideas like scanning is so important. It takes something instinctual and makes it teachable. When we have clear language to describe what we’re trying to develop, we can break it down, practice it, and refine it with purpose. Vocabulary doesn’t just help us talk about the game—it helps us coach it better, and ultimately, helps players perform better when it matters most.