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Home » Baseball » Baseball Knowledge Base Article

Runner Hit by a Batted Ball Usually Out - More

By: Rich Ives
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The spirit and intent of the interference rules (7.09) is that a runner may NEVER interfere with a fielder's attempt to field a batted ball. A fielder has an absolute right to field a batted ball, unhindered by the runners.

In that vein:

The rulew that apply are:

= = = =

7.08 Any runner is out when_

f) He is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has touched or passed an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to advance. EXCEPTION: If a runner is touching his base when touched by an Infield Fly, he is not out, although the batter is out;
If two runners are touched by the same fair ball, only the first one is out because the ball is instantly dead
If runner is touched by an Infield Fly when he is not touching his base, both runner and batter are out.

AND

7.09 It is interference by a batter or a runner when:

m) A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be called out for interference."

= = = =

As you can see, a base offers no sanctuary.


A runner who is hit by a fair batted ball is ALWAYS OUT except when:

1) The fielder (other than the pitcher) had a chance to field the ball (the ball passed through or within arm's reach of the fielder) and failed AND no other fielder behind the play had a chance to field the ball or;

2) The ball was deflected by a fielder, including the pitcher or;

3) He was on a base and struck by a DECLARED infield fly.


Unless one of the three exceptions was met, a runner on a base, who is hit by a batted ball, is out.

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