Tyler Massey has become one of the best centerfielders in the American Association. Massey, the Chattanooga, Tenn., native who had a chance to play defensive back in the Southeastern Conference before choosing to play baseball professionally out of high school, is perfectly suited for the spacious gaps at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Besides being gifted athletically, what are Massey’s three keys to tracking down a fly ball in the gap?   

1. Know the hitters: You have to start out before the game and study each batter, learn their tendencies and where they like to hit the ball.
2. Adjust your starting position: When you know a hitter’s tendencies you then have to adjust where you stand on the field when each different hitter comes to bat, it makes it easier to get there faster if you started in a better position.
3. Trust your instincts: There is only so much studying you can do when it comes to a batter, but when they hit a ball you just have trust your instincts to get you there to make the play.

Compiled by Courtney Day of tbonesbaseball.com