I have shot my kids baseball from little league through college. Also, take my camera to our local AAA minor games. You have been given good responses. Here are some tips I would like to add.

I shoot with a D500 and a 70-300mm, I do use an Optech sling strap https://optechusa.com/utility-strap-sling.html to rest the camera between innings. Use a manfrotto quick release plate for the camera and attach the strap to it. That way the strap won't be in your way.

I used to shoot from the foul lines (ask the umpire first!), but I find much better to carry a two-step ladder and shoot from over the fence and get better angles. Shooting from the dugout (ask the coach too!) is nice to get home plate photos, but I find the players and umpires get in the way of other plays and miss the shot.

ALWAYS keep an eye where is the ball. Especially, when you are close to first base. Foul balls and warm up throws between innings can also get you if you are exposed.

If there is a net between you and the game, pressing the lens against the net will make the net less visible. Again, watch for balls coming your way.

Always include the ball in your pictures. Makes the shot much more interesting.

if you are in the field, you can get good pitcher shots when warming up between innings.

Look out for players expressions and emotions.

Happy shooting, it's a lot of fun.

Hi Club Member:
I see here a lot of shooters are recommending a 70-200 for baseball. I don't agree at all and why not enough reach. Especially if your shooting through a fence or even in the dugout. From 1st base dugout you will be able to capture plays at 1st base, second base and maybe home. That's it. I strongly recommend a lens with bigger reach like a 80-400 5.6-6.3. You can find one used for around $1000. I use this lens on my D500 and it's great. Plays in the outfield are a bit iffy, but for the entire field it's great.
Try to get permission from the coach to shoot from the dugouts to get you closer and stay out of the way. The kids are usually great about this.
If you have to shoot through the fence put your lens right in the middle between the links.
Here are a few shots using this lens combo and good luck.

At a local HS game you can get so close that a 200-500 would be overkill to shoot primarily a pitcher IMHO, plus it is plenty fast for wildlife but a bit slow for baseball as well as expensive and bulky.

A D7XXX and a used but not abused 80-200 f2.8 AFD will do the job quite well.

If used scares you a D7200/7500 and an 18-200 will do the job in day games, but again slow for night games. The 70-200 2.8 AFS replaced the AFD version, but its pricey.

If you use high speed continuous shutter at 1/1000 second or higher it will be able to stop a pitch pretty much dead in flight. At 1/4000 or 1/8000 ... probably need the 2.8, or a used NIKKOR 70-210 f4 lens which is much lighter ... you can see the stitches on a 90 MPH+ pitch.

NIKKOR pro/serious amateur lenses are pretty bulletproof if taken even reasonable care of ... but you need to be sure you buy a body with an internal focus motor for the lenses I have described, other than the 18-200 which is an AFS and will work well on a 3XXX series body.

If you have any questions about technique or additional lenses feel free to ask.

I have shot a ton of free lance sports from high school to the Dayton Dragon A league baseball pros to the Cincinnati Reds MLB team as well as vintage baseball leagues and would be glad to help.

Its not difficult but you do need to know the right techniques.

If you shoot day games and are inexperienced the 18-200 with VR might be the best choice. I have all the lenses mentioned and the 18-200 is my go to walking around jack of all trades lens.

The 70-210 is primarily my zoo lens where all day walking is going on and the animals don't move 90 MPH.

An 80-200 2.8 and 300 f4 are my go to sports lenses.

I hope this helps.

You've gotten some great advice in the posts above! My own 2 cents follows: Your budget may not allow it, but I use two D7000's - I bought one brand new and the other was bought new after the release of the D7500 for a considerable discount. I keep the 18-200 on one body and the 200-500 on the other (I do disagree with those who say the 200-500 isn't a good choice; most of my better shots were taken with that lens and I've never had any problem with pitching speed and capturing the ball even though a good HS softball pitcher can hit speeds over 70 mph). I keep the body with the shorter zoom on a neck strap or on a peak design belt clip, and the other on a Manfrotto monopod. Here in Iowa about half of the HS softball fences are at about 5ft. That's perfect for the 200-500. The rest of the fences can be pretty damned tough to work with as they range as high as 8 - 10 ft. Many fields have outfield platforms that you can ask to use. I found a 4 step foldable ladder with rails and large steps from Tri-Arc and now haul that to games where the fences are tall and there are no platforms. I ALWAYS ask permission to shoot, especially if I plan to use a ladder/platform in the outfield or on a side fence. Some coaches feel cameras peering over the fence are a distraction, and that can limit what you do. Yeah, that's getting to be a lot of gear, but it certainly makes for some fantastic shots.