Baseball Rules
Which Dugout Is the
Which Dugout Is the
Home Team in Baseball?
There's no official rule — but there is a strong tradition. Here's exactly which side every MLB team calls home, plus what it means for Little League and youth baseball.
⚡ Quick Answer
The Rule
There is no official MLB rule — the home team chooses their own dugout.
The Tradition
Most home teams (about 60%) use the first base dugout. It's a tradition dating back to the 1800s.
Exceptions
Several teams use the third base side — including the Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, and Guardians — due to stadium design, sun angle, or history.
Little League
No official rule at the youth level either — most fields assign the home team to first base by local convention, but it varies by complex.
If you've ever tried to grab seats near your favorite team's dugout at a ballpark you've never been to before, you know the frustration of realizing you're on the wrong side. Unlike most sports where home and away benches are standardized, baseball leaves the dugout decision entirely up to the home team — and not every team makes the same call.
Here's everything you need to know about which side each MLB team calls home, why the tradition developed the way it did, what it means at the youth level, and why a handful of teams break from it entirely.
Which side is the home team dugout?
There is no rule in the MLB rulebook that dictates which team uses which dugout. The decision is entirely the home team's to make. That said, there is a deeply ingrained tradition — most home teams take the first base dugout, and most visiting teams occupy the third base side.
This tradition traces back to the early days of professional baseball in the late 1800s. At most early ballparks, the home team's clubhouse was located behind the first base dugout, making it the more practical choice for the home team. Additionally, when managers routinely served double duty as third base coaches, sitting on the third base side meant less walking between innings — so many chose the first base dugout instead. Over time this became standard practice even as the practical reasons faded.
Today roughly 60% of MLB teams use the first base side. The remaining 40% use the third base dugout — usually for specific reasons tied to their particular stadium's orientation, sun exposure, or historical layout.
Every MLB team's home dugout side
🏠 First Base Dugout
Atlanta Braves — Truist Park
Baltimore Orioles — Camden Yards
Boston Red Sox — Fenway Park
Cincinnati Reds — Great American Ball Park
Colorado Rockies — Coors Field
Houston Astros — Minute Maid Park
Kansas City Royals — Kauffman Stadium
Miami Marlins — loanDepot park
Milwaukee Brewers — American Family Field
Minnesota Twins — Target Field
New York Mets — Citi Field
New York Yankees — Yankee Stadium
Philadelphia Phillies — Citizens Bank Park
Seattle Mariners — T-Mobile Park
St. Louis Cardinals — Busch Stadium
San Diego Padres — Petco Park
Tampa Bay Rays — Tropicana Field
Texas Rangers — Globe Life Field
Washington Nationals — Nationals Park
🏠 Third Base Dugout
Arizona Diamondbacks — Chase Field
Athletics — Sutter Health Park, Sacramento
Chicago Cubs — Wrigley Field
Chicago White Sox — Guaranteed Rate Field
Cleveland Guardians — Progressive Field
Detroit Tigers — Comerica Park
Los Angeles Angels — Angel Stadium
Los Angeles Dodgers — Dodger Stadium
Pittsburgh Pirates — PNC Park
San Francisco Giants — Oracle Park
Toronto Blue Jays — Rogers Centre
📅 2026 Update — Athletics now in Sacramento
The Athletics left Oakland after the 2024 season and now play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento (third base dugout) while their new Las Vegas stadium is built. They'll move to Las Vegas in 2028. The Rays returned to Tropicana Field in 2026 after spending the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa following Hurricane Milton damage.
Why do some teams use the third base dugout?
Every team that breaks from the first-base tradition has a specific reason. It's rarely arbitrary.
Chicago Cubs — Wrigley Field
Third base dugout
Wrigley Field's original design placed the clubhouse near the third base side and that layout has been maintained through every renovation. The third base dugout also faces away from the afternoon sun during day games — a meaningful advantage at one of the most sun-exposed ballparks in baseball. The visitors' dugout at Wrigley gets direct afternoon sunlight in the later innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers — Dodger Stadium
Third base dugout
Dodger Stadium's orientation and design make the third base side more practical for the home team. The clubhouse access and sun angle both favor the third base dugout for the team spending the full season there.
San Francisco Giants — Oracle Park
Third base dugout
Oracle Park is famously affected by strong winds coming off San Francisco Bay. The third base dugout provides better protection from those winds — a practical consideration for a team that plays half their games in one of the windiest ballpark environments in baseball.
Cleveland Guardians — Progressive Field
Third base dugout
Progressive Field's design and sun exposure patterns during day games make the third base side the more comfortable option for the home team through a long 81-game home schedule.
Toronto Blue Jays — Rogers Centre
Third base dugout
At Rogers Centre, the third base dugout is closer to the team's primary clubhouse and training facilities — making it the more practical and efficient choice for the home side.
Which dugout is home team in Little League and youth baseball?
The short answer is the same as MLB: there is no official rule. At the youth level dugout assignment is handled by the home team, the umpire in chief, or local league convention — and it varies widely from complex to complex.
That said, the first base dugout as home team is the most common default at youth fields across the country for the same historical reasons it became the MLB tradition. Most youth fields that are built with a permanent home and visitor designation follow the first base convention.
📋 Youth Baseball Dugout Convention by Level
T-Ball / Coach Pitch
No official side — often decided by coin flip or field director. Both dugouts are usually identical.
Little League (Majors, ages 9–12)
First base = home team by convention at most Little League complexes. Confirm with the home team or umpire before warmups.
Junior / Senior League (ages 13–16)
First base = home team is standard. Some fields with specific sun or wind issues may assign third base to home by local rule.
Travel Ball (USSSA / Perfect Game)
Tournament brackets typically assign home and visitor dugouts on the field sheet. Check the bracket — do not assume. At neutral site tournaments the higher seed is often "home" and gets first choice.
High School
First base = home team is standard by state association convention in most states, though field-specific exceptions exist.
💡 Travel ball parent tip
At a tournament complex with multiple fields — like a Perfect Game event — each individual field may have its own designated home dugout that is not always first base. The field assignment sheet in the bracket will specify which team has which dugout. When in doubt, ask the umpire at plate meeting before warmups rather than assuming.
What is a dugout in baseball?
The dugout is the team's bench area, located in foul territory between home plate and either first or third base, slightly below field level. It's where players, coaches, and authorized team personnel wait when they're not on the field — packed with bats, helmets, gloves, and catching equipment, usually stored in individual cubbies.
The reason dugouts are built below field level is primarily about sightlines. Locating the bench below ground level keeps players from obstructing the view of spectators seated behind the dugout, particularly at home plate — the area where the primary action in baseball is centered. The below-grade design also provides some protection from wind, rain, and hard-hit foul balls that might otherwise reach the bench area.
📋 Who's allowed in the dugout?
MLB Rule 3.17 specifies that only players, substitutes, managers, coaches, athletic trainers, and batboys may occupy the bench during a game. Players on the injured list are allowed in the dugout but may not enter the field of play. Players and coaches who have been ejected must leave the dugout immediately per Rule 4.07.
Why does it matter which dugout you sit near?
If you're buying tickets specifically to sit near your team's dugout — close enough to potentially snag a foul ball during warmups or catch a glimpse of your favorite players between innings — knowing which side is the home dugout before you buy matters. Dugout-adjacent seats are some of the most sought-after in any ballpark, and ending up on the visitor's side when you're a home team fan means you're watching the players you came to see from across the diamond.
The location can also have subtle strategic effects. The home team manager communicates with the first and third base coaches via hand signals from the dugout — meaning the distance and angle to each coach varies depending on which side they're sitting on. Sun and wind exposure during day games can affect how comfortable players are between innings, which is the primary reason so many stadium-specific decisions lean toward the shaded or wind-protected side.
Best dugout celebrations
Whatever side they're on, dugout celebrations have become one of the best parts of the game. Cold-shouldering the rookie after his first homer. The handshake chains that somehow get longer every week. The Orioles' Dong Bong. These guys are making millions of dollars playing baseball and they're still goofing around like it's Little League. That's the dugout. That's the whole thing.
Frequently asked questions
Which dugout is the home team in baseball?
There is no official rule. The home team chooses their own dugout. By tradition, most home teams (about 60%) use the first base dugout. However, several teams including the Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Guardians, and Blue Jays use the third base dugout due to stadium design, sun exposure, or historical layout.
Which dugout is home team in Little League?
There is no official Little League rule specifying which dugout is home. Most Little League complexes assign the first base dugout to the home team by local convention, but this varies. At tournament play — including USSSA and Perfect Game events — the home team dugout is specified on the field assignment sheet in the bracket. Always confirm with the umpire at the plate meeting before warmups.
Is there a rule about which dugout is the home team?
No. The MLB rulebook is silent on which dugout the home team must use. The choice is entirely at the home team's discretion and is typically based on tradition, stadium design, sun angle, and proximity to clubhouse facilities. The same is true at most youth and amateur levels.
Which dugout is the home team at Wrigley Field?
The Chicago Cubs use the third base dugout at Wrigley Field. The original stadium design placed the clubhouse near the third base side, and the third base dugout also faces away from the afternoon sun during day games — a practical advantage at one of baseball's most sun-exposed ballparks.
Which dugout is the home team at Dodger Stadium?
The Los Angeles Dodgers use the third base dugout at Dodger Stadium.
Which dugout is the home team at Yankee Stadium?
The New York Yankees use the first base dugout at Yankee Stadium.
Which dugout is the home team at Fenway Park?
The Boston Red Sox use the first base dugout at Fenway Park.
Why are baseball dugouts below ground level?
Baseball dugouts are built below field level primarily so that players and coaches don't obstruct the sightlines of fans seated behind the dugout. Since home plate is the primary focal point of a baseball game, blocking that view even slightly would be unpopular with fans. The sunken design also provides some protection from the elements including wind, rain, and hard-hit foul balls.
Which dugout is home at travel ball tournaments?
At travel ball tournaments including Perfect Game and USSSA events, the home and visitor dugout assignments are specified on the field sheet within the bracket. There is no universal standard — different fields at the same complex may have different designations. Always check the bracket and confirm with the umpire at the plate meeting before warmups rather than assuming first base is always home.
The short answer: most home teams use the first base dugout by tradition, but there's no rule requiring it. The Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Guardians, Blue Jays, and several others use the third base side for stadium-specific reasons. At the youth level the first base convention generally holds but tournament play can vary — always check the bracket and confirm at the plate meeting.
Before you buy seats at a new ballpark, it's worth a quick check of which side your team calls home — dugout-adjacent seats are some of the best in any park, and the wrong side of the diamond is a frustrating way to spend nine innings.