Baseball rules runner

Rules for a runner hit by a batted ball

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• baseball
• rules
• runner

[firstpickjim]

Yep. Baseball makes this one quite complicated to understand. In baseball, the runner is out unless the ball goes directly through, or nearby the first fielder and then hits the runner, and even then, he could be out if another fielder has a play. There are only two instances where he is safe; they are; when hit immediately behind the first fielder and no other fielder has a play. (Or hit by an infield-fly WHILE touching a base.) This applies to balls not yet touched or deflected by a fielder.

[Blootow]

@firstpickjim

I saw on a MLB game where the runner who was on third was hit by the ball but he was not out because he was in foul territory down the third base line. Isn't this a instance where a runner hit by the ball is safe too?

Thanks for the great videos!

[firstpickjim]

@Blootow - yes. A runner is only out when hit by a FAIR ball, while he is ON fair territory. Before it passes through or by etc. as described in the video.

[bailashtoreth]

This must be one of the many rules differences between softball and baseball. In softball, if the ball has passed a fielder other than the pitcher and no other fielder has a play, the runner is not out....