Why do some ballparks have these in the infield???

Question

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/156079508/

I can not imagine what they are for. The hitter on deck is not inside of that dirt circle, so what is it for???

Answer 1

Fungo circles. Coaches might stand there during BP and hit practice flies -- "fungoes" -- into the outfield for the players to catch. Dirt areas prevent wearing out grass.

They serve no function during a game.

Answer 2

I THINK that sometimes they put the team logos on there...

Answer 3

i dont know, i have never noticed that before

Answer 4

Where the coaches stand to hit to the players, and it is used as an on deck circle sometimes. Jeter stands in the one at Yankee Stadium.

Answer 5

Those are actually circles that the coaches stand in before the game to hit ground balls to the infield or fly balls to the outfield. They are there for 2 reasons - first so the coach does not wear a hole in the batters box, and they are dirt so the grass doesn't get torn out.

If you ever go to batting practice, you'll see what I mean.