Pepper (baseball)

Pepper is a common training drill in baseball used to improve hand-eye coordination, fielding skills, and quick reflexes. It involves a group of players, typically four to six, with one acting as the "batter" and the others acting as fielders. The fielders stand close to the batter, usually within 20 feet. The batter gently tosses or flips the ball towards the fielders, who field the ball cleanly and then softly throw it back to the batter using short, quick motions. The batter then chops or hits the ball downwards towards another fielder.

The emphasis is on quick, controlled throws and fielding the ball cleanly. The drill aims to increase reaction time, improve glove work, and develop accuracy in throwing. Pepper drills are often incorporated into pre-game warmups and practice sessions. The batter will typically move the bat around the hitting zone in order to get each fielder the ball. The game ends when a fielder commits an error (misplaying the ball) and will then take the batter's place.