How to Hit with Runners in Scoring Position: Approach, Drills, and Mental Game for Every Level

Last updated: March 12, 2026

Every hitter I have ever coached, from eight-year-olds in tee ball to college guys grinding through fall ball, has had the same moment freeze them up at some point: a runner standing on second or third, the dugout suddenly loud, and the pitcher staring in for the sign. That moment, with runners in scoring position (RISP), is where games are decided. It is also where hitters who looked locked in for nine innings suddenly forget how to breathe. I have lived on both sides of that at-bat as a player and a coach, and the difference between hitters who thrive in those situations and hitters who shrink from them is almost never about talent. It is about preparation, approach, and a repeatable plan.

In this guide, I am going to walk you through exactly how I teach hitters to attack at-bats with runners in scoring position. We will cover the mental side, the swing adjustments, the count strategy, the drills I use in cages and on the field, and the common mistakes that quietly kill RISP production. By the end, you should have a complete framework you can take into your next game, whether you are a Little League hitter trying to drive in your first big run or a varsity player chasing a higher RBI total this spring.

What "Runners in Scoring Position" Actually Means

Runners in scoring position, or RISP, refers to any baserunner standing on second base or third base. The reasoning is simple: a base hit to the outfield almost always scores a runner from second, and a hit, deep fly ball, ground ball, or even a wild pitch can score a runner from third. When you have a runner at second or third, the offense is one productive at-bat away from a run, and the entire dynamic of the at-bat shifts.

Why does that matter? Because the pitcher, the defense, and the manager all change their behavior. The pitcher works more carefully and often shifts pitch selection toward off-speed and breaking stuff away from the zone. The defense plays more strictly to situation, including infield-in alignments with a runner on third and less than two outs. And the umpire, frankly, sometimes squeezes the zone a touch tighter because pitchers nibble. As a hitter, your job is to recognize that everything has changed, and to adjust your plan accordingly rather than pretend it is just another at-bat.

Why RISP At-Bats Feel Different (and How to Fix It)

The very first thing I tell hitters is that RISP at-bats feel different because they are different, and trying to convince yourself they are not is a losing battle. You can feel your heart rate climb. You can feel the crowd. You can hear your coach, your teammates, and your own internal voice all yelling slightly different things. Pretending you are unaffected is a fast track to a tight, slow swing.

The fix is not to suppress the adrenaline. The fix is to channel it through a routine you have rehearsed a thousand times. Your pre-pitch routine matters more in RISP at-bats than in any other. A consistent breath, a consistent timing trigger, and a consistent thought (something short, like "see it, hit it" or "middle, middle") keep your body loose when the situation is trying to tighten you up. The goal is to make the swing feel exactly like batting practice swing #43, not like a season-defining moment.

Step-by-Step: My Complete RISP At-Bat Framework

Here is the exact sequence I run hitters through before, during, and after a RISP at-bat. Each step is short, but together they form a repeatable process you can trust under pressure.

Step 1: Read the Game Situation Before You Leave the Dugout

Before you grab a bat, look at the scoreboard. How many outs? What inning? What is the score? Who is on deck behind you? A runner on third with less than two outs is a completely different situation than a runner on second with two outs. The first calls for any contact that elevates the ball or stays out of the dirt to a middle infielder; the second calls for a hard line drive somewhere, period. Knowing the situation removes ambiguity from your approach.

Step 2: Identify the Pitcher’s Plan Against You

By the time you have a RISP at-bat, you have usually seen this pitcher at least once, even if just from the on-deck circle. What does he go to when he needs a strike? What does he throw for a chase pitch? Most amateur pitchers default to two patterns with runners on: pound the zone with a fastball early to get ahead, then bury a breaking ball or change-up away with two strikes. If that is the pattern, you already know what you are sitting on early in the count.

Step 3: Set Your Pitch and Your Zone

This is the heart of the at-bat. Before the first pitch, commit to a pitch and a location. With runners in scoring position and less than two strikes, I want hitters sitting fastball middle, looking for a pitch they can drive to the big part of the field. If you get exactly what you sat on, do not foul it off, do not take it for a called strike, drive it. That decision needs to be made before the pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand. For more on building a complete plan, my baseball hitting approach guide goes deeper on this.

Step 4: Use Your Body to Calm Your Mind

Step out of the box. Take a slow breath in through your nose, longer out through your mouth. Tap your cleats, adjust your gloves, then step back in. That little physical reset gives your brain a beat to slow down. It looks like a routine. It is actually a nervous-system reset, and it works.

Step 5: Track, Trust, Trigger

See the ball out of the pitcher’s hand. Trust your plan. Trigger your swing on time. RISP at-bats fall apart when hitters peek at the runner, sneak a glance at the third base coach mid-windup, or steer the bat trying to "just put it in play." Track, trust, trigger. Three words. Nothing else.

Step 6: Adjust With Two Strikes

If you get to two strikes, the goal changes. Now you are protecting the plate, expanding your zone slightly, and shortening your swing. A productive ground ball to the right side with a runner on second can still advance the runner. A line drive to the opposite field with a runner on third can score the run. My two-strike hitting guide covers the specific mechanical adjustments I teach.

Step 7: Reset After the At-Bat

Whether you came through or struck out looking, the at-bat is over the moment you step out of the box. Walk back to the dugout, replay the at-bat one time in your head, take one thing you can learn, and let the rest go. Carrying a failed RISP at-bat into your next defensive inning or your next plate appearance will quietly cost your team runs.

Equipment You Actually Need to Train for RISP

You do not need a Driveline lab to train this skill. Most of the equipment I use for RISP-specific work is gear hitters already own or can borrow from a team bag. Here is the short list of what actually moves the needle.

• A good batting tee: Adjustable height is critical, because you will be working multiple zones for RISP situations (low and away for opposite-field contact, middle-up for drive contact).
• A short-toss screen or L-screen: RISP reps are timing reps, and a live arm at 18 to 25 feet replicates game timing better than a machine for situational work.
• Two or three buckets of baseballs: Volume matters. You want enough that you are not stopping every six pitches to pick up.
• A radar gun or stopwatch (optional but helpful): Knowing the actual velocity coming in helps you set realistic timing on a pitching machine.
• Cones or batting tape: For marking spray-chart targets in the cage. A line drive to the right-center gap is a different rep than a hard ground ball to short.
• A simulated game scoresheet or index cards: Write the situation on a card (runner on third, one out, 2-1 count). Pull a card, get in the box, take the rep. This is the cheapest pressure-training tool in baseball.

If you want to upgrade your tee or cage, my batting tee review and hitting net review articles cover the gear I have personally beaten on.

Building Your RISP Approach by Count

Count awareness is the difference between productive RISP hitters and guys who quietly hit .180 with runners on. The pitcher is going to behave differently in different counts, and your zone needs to shrink and expand accordingly. Here is the count-by-count framework I teach.

Count	Pitcher’s Likely Plan	Your Approach	Target Zone
0-0	Get-me-over fastball, often middle	Hunt fastball, swing only at your pitch	Middle, belt-high
1-0 / 2-0	Throws a strike or risks a walk	Aggressive on fastball in your zone	Middle-in, drivable
0-1	Often a chase pitch (slider/curve)	Lay off below the zone	Wait for a strike
1-1	50/50 fastball or off-speed	Sit fastball, react off-speed	Middle of plate
2-1 / 3-1	Must throw strike, usually fastball	Most aggressive count; drive it	Middle-middle
0-2 / 1-2	Waste pitch or expand zone	Battle, fight, foul tough strikes	Expand 2 inches each side
2-2	Pitcher’s pitch, often breaking	Hit-anything-close mode	Expand, protect
3-2	Strike pitch, often fastball	Look fastball, foul off close stuff	Middle, react late

Notice the pattern: when the pitcher has to throw a strike, you get aggressive in a small zone. When the pitcher gets to throw what he wants, you stay disciplined. RISP at-bats are won by hitters who refuse to chase early-count chase pitches and refuse to take borderline strikes once they are in the hole.

Situational Adjustments: Runner on Second vs. Third

Not every RISP situation is the same. Your approach with a runner on second is fundamentally different than your approach with a runner on third, and pretending otherwise leaves runs on the field.

Runner on Second, Less Than Two Outs

Your job here is to get a base hit, period. The runner is going to score on almost any clean single to the outfield. That means you can be more selective and wait for a pitch you can drive. With less than two outs, you do not need to hit a home run; you need a line drive to the outfield. Hit the ball hard somewhere in the air or on a line.

Runner on Second, Two Outs

The runner takes off on contact, so even a hit through the infield scores him. Approach: hit the ball hard, anywhere. This is not the at-bat for trying to pull a ball you should be driving to the opposite field. Stay middle, stay aggressive, and let your swing decide where the ball goes.

Runner on Third, Less Than Two Outs

This is the most situation-dependent at-bat in the game. The infield is often playing in, which both helps you (any ball over their heads is a hit) and hurts you (sharp ground balls now go to a fielder closer to home). Your priority order: line drive, deep fly ball, ground ball to the right side. Strike out swinging only if you got beat by a great pitch. A strikeout looking with a runner on third is a cardinal sin.

Runner on Third, Two Outs

The runner does not score on a sacrifice fly when there are already two outs unless the ball drops. You need a hit. Hit the ball hard, on a line, to the biggest part of the field you can reach. Forget about the sacrifice fly mentality; you need to actually get a base hit.

Runners on Second and Third

The pitcher will almost certainly nibble. Walks become a real threat, which means he often has to come into the zone with something hittable in fastball counts. Be disciplined early, hunt your zone, and do not chase. Two on, especially with second base open, often turns into the most patient at-bat of the inning.

Common Mistakes Table: What I See Hitters Get Wrong

I have spent enough hours behind a backstop to recognize the same mistakes happening at every level, from 10U travel ball through college. Here are the patterns that quietly tank RISP averages, and what I tell hitters to do instead.

Mistake	Why It Hurts	What to Do Instead
Trying to do too much	Forces a long swing, pulls off the ball	Stay middle, hit a line drive somewhere
Chasing the first pitch out of the zone	Gives away the only fastball strike	Track the first pitch, swing only at your zone
Peeking at the runner	Pulls eyes off the release point	Lock in on the pitcher’s release window
Swinging at the pitcher’s pitch with two strikes	Weak contact or whiffs	Foul off tough pitches, force a mistake
Trying to pull a ball away	Rolls over to the pull-side infield	Drive the ball to the opposite gap
Ignoring the defensive alignment	Hits right at the infield in	Elevate or pick a hole; know where they stand
Letting a borderline 0-2 pitch go	Strike three looking with a runner on third	Battle anything close with two strikes
Carrying the at-bat into the next inning	Costs you defense and your next at-bat	Replay once, learn, reset before the field
Speeding up your routine	Adrenaline causes early triggers	Slow your breath, keep your normal timing
Hunting a home run	Long swing, lifts the head	Hit it hard; the homer happens on accident

Drills That Actually Build RISP Skills

You cannot train RISP performance with the same flat batting practice every team takes. RISP is a pressure skill, and pressure has to be built into the rep. These are the drills I run with hitters who want to be better with runners on.

Drill 1: Situation Cards

Write 20 game situations on index cards. Runner on third, one out, down by one, 2-1 count. Runner on second, two outs, tie game, 0-0. Shuffle them. Before every round of BP, pull a card. The hitter has to verbalize his approach ("I’m hunting a fastball middle-in to drive") before he sees a pitch. This is the cheapest, most game-realistic drill in baseball.

Drill 2: Opposite-Field Tee Work

Set the tee on the outside corner, knee-high. Hit 25 reps to the opposite gap. This is the most underrated RISP swing because so many RISP hits come on outside corner pitches that pitchers feel safe throwing. If you can crush a 2-0 pitch on the outside black to the right-center gap, you will hit .350 with runners on. My opposite-field hitting guide breaks down the mechanics.

Drill 3: Two-Strike Battle Round

Hitter starts every pitch with a 1-2 count. Coach calls balls and strikes live. Hitter has to put any strike in play and take any ball. After 10 reps, switch hitters. This drill kills the "hope the umpire gives me one" instinct.

Drill 4: Runner Visualization BP

Before each pitch in regular BP, the hitter calls out where the imaginary runner is and what the outs are. The hitter has to deliver a swing that matches the situation. Round one is all line drives. Round two is all balls in the air. Round three is mixed.

Drill 5: Two-Strike Foul Off

The hitter is challenged to foul off the first three pitches of every at-bat, then put the fourth in play. This sounds silly but it builds the ability to spoil pitcher’s pitches and stay alive long enough to get something to drive. Major leaguers do this constantly with runners on third.

Drill 6: Eight-Pitch Live At-Bat

Get a live arm behind a screen. Coach calls a situation. Hitter takes a full at-bat, max eight pitches, with realistic ball/strike calls. The hitter has to execute the right swing for the situation, not just "hit a line drive somewhere." This is the closest you can get to a real RISP at-bat without a game.

Drill 7: One-Knee High Tee for Elevation

For runner-on-third, less-than-two-out situations, you need to be able to elevate the ball on demand. Drop to one knee with the tee belt-high. Hit 15 reps focusing on getting the ball in the air to the outfield. This trains the swing path you want without your lower half getting in the way. It pairs nicely with my launch angle training drills.

The Mental Game: Controlling What You Can Control

If you talk to any hitter who has hit .400 with runners on, they will all tell you something similar: the at-bat is not bigger because of the situation, it is bigger because they make it bigger. The mental side of RISP hitting is mostly about removing self-imposed pressure.

The biggest mindset shift I teach: you are not trying to get a hit. You are trying to win the at-bat. Winning means executing your plan, swinging at your pitch, taking the pitcher’s pitch, and putting a competitive swing on something hittable. If you do all of that and line out to the shortstop, you won the at-bat. The next ten times you do that exact same process, you will hit .700. Tying your self-worth to a hit-or-miss outcome on a single swing is what causes hitters to press, change their swing mid at-bat, and chase. For more on staying steady, my mental game guide covers the routines I use with hitters all season.

The 90-Second Reset

If you ground into a double play with the bases loaded, you have about 90 seconds before you take the field. Use them. Walk to the corner of the dugout. Breathe four times in through your nose, eight seconds out through your mouth. Replay the at-bat one time, find one technical thing ("I pulled off," "I expanded," "I was late on the fastball"), and verbalize one fix for next time ("stay middle," "wait longer," "sit fastball"). Then drop it. Carrying the at-bat onto defense costs you twice.

Advanced Tips: What Separates Good RISP Hitters from Great Ones

Once a hitter has the basics down, there is another layer of awareness that turns a .280 RISP hitter into a .360 RISP hitter. These are the details I get into with advanced high school and college guys.

• Know the pitcher’s tendencies under pressure. Most pitchers shrink their pitch mix with runners on. A guy who has four pitches might only throw two when he gets uncomfortable. Sit on the two pitches he trusts.
• Watch the catcher’s setup. If the catcher sets up off the plate, that is a strong indicator of an off-speed pitch designed to chase. If the catcher sets up over the corner, fastball is more likely.
• Use the entire field as a defense. Where are the outfielders shaded? Where is the infield aligned? With a runner on third and the infield in, a soft line drive over the shortstop’s head is the highest-percentage hit you can hit.
• Read the pitcher’s body language. A pitcher who shakes off two signs, takes a long breath, and looks down at the rubber is uncomfortable. Stay disciplined, he is about to nibble.
• Have a clear "driveable pitch" image in your head. Before the pitch, picture the exact location and pitch you want. If it shows up, you swing without hesitation. If not, you take.
• Lean on plate discipline. The best RISP hitters walk a ton because pitchers refuse to give in. Refusing to chase forces them to throw a strike. My plate discipline guide covers how to train this skill.
• Trust the next hitter. If you are the three-hole hitter and the four-hole behind you is hot, take your walk. Do not try to be the hero on a 3-1 pitch six inches off the plate.
• Hunt counts, not pitches. Get to 2-0, 2-1, or 3-1 and your batting average jumps 100 points across every level of baseball. Be patient enough to get there.

How RISP Approach Changes by Level

The principles do not change, but the application does. A 10-year-old hitter in Little League is not facing the same pitch arsenal as a college hitter. Here is how I scale the framework.

Youth (Ages 7-12)

At this level, most RISP runs score on walks, errors, and passed balls. Your job as a hitter is simple: do not strike out, especially with a runner on third and less than two outs. Make the defense make a play. Choke up an inch with two strikes, shorten your swing, and put the ball in play. The bat speed and exit velocity battle is not nearly as important as putting pressure on a defense.

Middle School (Ages 13-14)

Pitchers start to throw real breaking balls here, and the chase pitch becomes a real weapon. The number one skill to develop at this age is laying off the curveball in the dirt. Build a tight zone, especially with two strikes. A hitter who refuses to chase below the zone at 13 turns into a hitter who walks 40 times in high school.

High School (Ages 15-18)

Velocity climbs, off-speed gets sharper, and pitchers start to actually sequence. This is where the count framework I laid out earlier really starts mattering. Hitters at this level need to understand they are facing a plan, and they need to have a counter-plan. RISP averages at the varsity level are heavily correlated with two-strike contact rates.

College and Beyond

At the college level and above, pitchers can execute. They are not just trying to throw a strike, they are trying to throw a specific pitch in a specific spot. Your scouting reports matter. Your video study matters. Knowing that a guy throws a back-foot slider with two strikes 70 percent of the time changes how you take your at-bat. The mental game also becomes the biggest separator at this level, because everyone has talent.

RISP and the Modern Numbers: What the Stats Say

I am not a believer in coaching by spreadsheet, but the numbers do confirm what I see on the field. Across MLB over the last decade, league-wide batting average with RISP has hovered between .244 and .260. That is almost identical to the league-wide batting average overall. In other words, the average hitter does not perform differently with runners on, which means the perception that RISP is some mystical skill is partially a myth.

What is true is that the very best RISP hitters consistently outperform their own overall batting average by 20 to 40 points. They walk more, they strike out less, and they put more balls in play in the air. The difference is approach, not magic. If you want to dig into the numbers, my baseball statistics guide covers what RISP, OPS, and WRC+ actually mean.

Putting It All Together: A Sample Practice Plan

Here is a 60-minute RISP-focused hitting practice I run with teams and individuals. You can run this once a week through the season, and you will see RBI totals climb by mid-year.

• Minutes 0-10: Dynamic warm-up and swing prep. Light tee work, no situation focus. Just feel a good swing.
• Minutes 10-20: Opposite-field tee round. 25 reps, focus on driving the outside pitch.
• Minutes 20-30: Two-strike battle round. Live arm, every count is 1-2.
• Minutes 30-45: Situation cards live BP. Pull a card, verbalize approach, take 3 swings.
• Minutes 45-55: Eight-pitch live at-bat. Two full at-bats per hitter with a coach calling pitches and counts.
• Minutes 55-60: Mental reset work. Discuss one at-bat from the day, what was the plan, what was the swing, what is the next-time fix.

This kind of plan integrates well into a broader team practice. For full team-practice structure, my baseball practice plan covers the full session blueprint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does RISP mean in baseball?

RISP stands for "runners in scoring position," which refers to any baserunner standing on second base or third base. Both bases are considered scoring position because a base hit to the outfield will typically score either runner.

Why do hitters struggle with runners in scoring position?

The biggest reasons are mental, not mechanical. Hitters try to do too much, expand their zone, chase the pitcher’s pitch, and swing tight because they want a hit too badly. The pitcher’s plan also changes; pitchers nibble more with runners on, which means hitters who chase the first pitch out of the zone or take borderline strikes pay a steeper price.

Should I change my swing with runners on?

Not your mechanics, no. The same swing that works with the bases empty works with the bases loaded. What changes is your approach, meaning your zone, your count strategy, and the kind of contact you are trying to make. Trying to add power with a runner on is the single fastest way to roll over a ground ball to second base.

What is a good batting average with RISP?

League average across MLB is around .250 with RISP. At the high school varsity level, good RISP hitters live in the .320 to .380 range. The very best hitters at any level outperform their own overall batting average by 20 to 40 points with runners in scoring position, mostly through walks, contact rate, and avoiding the strikeout.

What is the best pitch to look for with a runner on third and less than two outs?

Anything in the middle of the plate, belt-high, that you can drive to the outfield. With less than two outs, even a deep fly ball scores the run on a sacrifice fly. Avoid pitches that pull you over the plate or out front, because the highest-leverage at-bat is the one where you put a clean, balanced swing on a strike.

How do I stop pressing in RISP at-bats?

Build a pre-pitch routine that you use every single at-bat all season, not just in big moments. Breathe, set your timing, repeat a short focus word, and step in. The routine is the anchor that keeps your nervous system calm when the situation tries to speed everything up. Your brain trusts what you have rehearsed.

Is it better to hit aggressively or take pitches with runners on?

Aggressive in your zone, disciplined out of it. Pitchers nibble with runners on, which means many of the pitches they throw are not strikes. Hunting your pitch in your zone and taking everything else is exactly the approach that walks the bases full or gets you into a 2-1 count where the pitcher has to come into the zone with a fastball.

Can a sacrifice fly count as a productive RISP at-bat?

Absolutely, with a runner on third and less than two outs. A deep fly ball that scores a run is one of the most valuable outcomes a hitter can produce in that situation. It does not count as a hit, but it counts as an RBI, and it counts as winning the at-bat.

How do I practice RISP situations at home?

Use the situation-cards drill. Write 20 situations on index cards, set up a tee or short-toss net in your yard or garage, and run yourself through 10 to 15 minutes of pull-a-card-take-three-swings every day. The cheapest, most effective home drill there is.

Do MLB players actually have a special "clutch" gene?

Statistically, clutch performance as a long-term skill is debated, and the year-to-year correlation of "clutch" metrics is weaker than overall hitting ability. But pitch selection, approach, and emotional control are absolutely real skills, and hitters who train them consistently outperform their peers in RISP situations over a career. Call it a trained skill, not a gene.

Final Thoughts: The Hitter You Want to Be

The hitters who thrive with runners in scoring position are not the most talented hitters in the league. They are the most prepared, the most disciplined, and the most consistent in their approach. They have a plan, they trust it, they execute it, and they walk back to the dugout with the same heart rate whether they got the hit or made the out. That is the hitter you can become with the framework I have laid out here.

Pick three things from this guide and start working on them this week. Maybe it is the situation-cards drill, the count-based approach table, and the 90-second reset. Run those three things for a month and you will feel the difference in your next big at-bat. Then add three more. By the end of the season, you will not be a hitter who hopes to get a hit with a runner on third. You will be the hitter your coach wants up there.

That is the entire game. See you at the field.