Rule 8 - Section 1 - WHEN BATTER BECOMES A RUNNER - Baseball Rules Academy (2024)

FAQs

What happens if a baseball hits a runner? ›

If a baserunner is hit by a fair batted ball while standing on a base, the runner is out, unless the ball has already passed an infielder or the infield fly rule has been declared. The base is not a sanctuary.

8-1-1 A batter becomes a runner with the right to attempt to score by advancing to first, second, third and home bases in the listed order when: he hits a fair ball (2-5-1); He becomes a batter-runner when entitled to run.

The rule is written to protect the fielder taking the throw. The throw must be able to be caught by the fielder. A throw must be made. If a throw is made by a fielder and it hits the runner while out of the runner's lane in the back, the umpire usually calls interference.

A runner can only be used if the umpires, together, are satisfied that the batsman has sustained an injury during the match that affects their ability to run. The runner must be a member of the batting side, but not the twelfth man.

1 A batter who has a runner will suffer the penalty for any infringement of the Laws by the runner as if he/she, the batter, had been responsible for the infringement. In particular he/she will be out if the runner is out under either of Laws 37 (Obstructing the field) or 38 (Run out).

Ruling: Runner is declared out. Ball is dead, and batter-runner is awarded first base. The fact that the runner had contact with the base when struck with the batted ball has no bearing on the play. (An exception to this is when the runner is hit by an Infield Fly while on base.)

Interference is defined as the act of an offensive player or team member which impedes, hinders or confuses a defensive player attempting to execute a play.

Does striking the baserunning glove constitute a batter being hit? A. No, the baserunning glove is not a piece of equipment.

The rule is designed to create thresholds to end a game in a fair and timely fashion. The 8-run rule is only in effect for regular season games. The use of the term “mercy rule” is a misnomer. The run rule is not in place to limit the number of runs a team can score in a game.

A runner may not leap over an upright (sitting, kneeling, or standing) defender's body to avoid a tag. They may jump over a defender who is laying on the ground or the outstretched arm/glove of a defender who is not standing.

Can a runner jump over a fielder? ›

(2-32-1, 2) Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all legal attempts to avoid a fielder as long as the fielder is lying on the ground. Diving over a fielder is illegal.

According to the Approved Ruling: In this situation, the lines marking the three-foot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within that three-foot lane or on the lines marking the lane.

BASEBALL: When there are two outs, the batter is out. When there are not two outs and the runner is advancing to home plate, if the runner is tagged out, the ball remains live and interference is ignored. Otherwise, the ball is dead, and the runner is called out.

Definition. A player is awarded a run if he crosses the plate to score his team a run. When tallying runs scored, the way in which a player reached base is not considered. If a player reaches base by an error or a fielder's choice, as long as he comes around to score, he is still credited with a run.

If no errors and no passed balls occur during the inning, all runs scored are automatically earned (assigned responsible to the pitcher(s) who allowed each runner to reach base). Also, in some cases, an error can be rendered harmless as the inning progresses.

In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured.

2-7-3 A batter-runner is a player who has finished a time at bat until he is put out or until playing action ends.