Shoot, I dunno......I’ve always just run to where I think the ball is headed is all. Usually can catch it, too. :) No rocket science.
True enough...more like brain surgery than rocket science. What is fascinating to me is that the fielder likely takes in the sound of the ball on the bat to unconsciously make the decision.
Whenever the bat hits the ball you react with some motion NO MATTER where it is going. Takes a split second to put things together and react to the actual trajectory.
Sure ... it's not hard to do ...
But how do you do it? How does your brain process the visual data so you can think the ball is headed some particular place?
It's quite clear that you haven't a clue ... neither do I.
It is, in fact, a very difficult problem. "Artificial Intelligence" and robotics are, in some ways, more difficult disciplines than mere rocket science.