Understanding Baseball's Infield Fly Rule
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The document discusses the infield fly rule in baseball. It explains that the rule can come into effect when there are runners on first and second base with less than two outs. If an infielder can easily catch a pop fly with normal effort, the batter is automatically called out, but the runners may still advance at their own risk. The purpose of the rule is to prevent the defense from intentionally dropping an easy pop fly in order to turn it into a double play.
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Understanding Baseball's Infield Fly Rule
- 1. By Steven Saslow, Blackstone
- 2. Steven Saslow has held a number executive positions with the Blackstone Group. Presently semiretired and assisting Blackstone as a consultant, Steven Saslow spent many years coaching his sons’ little league baseball teams. Beyond ensuring the safety and well-being of his or her players, the primary job of a little league baseball coach is to instruct players on the basic rules of and fundamentals of the sport. One rule many coaches struggle to explain is the infield fly rule. The rule can come into effect whenever runners occupy first and second base and fewer than two outs have been recorded. A runner on third base does not negate the chance of an infield fly rule if runners also hold both first and second base.
- 3. The remainder of the rule is subject to some interpretation, though the basic call occurs after a batter hits a pop fly that can be caught by an infielder with no more than standard effort. Deciding whether or not a fly ball qualifies as an easy catch is up to the umpires. Ideally an umpire should make the call once the ball has reached its highest point. Should an infield fly call be made and should the ball land in fair territory, the batter is automatically declared out and the base runners do not need to advance.
- 4. The purpose of the infield fly rule is to prevent unfair double-play situations during which an infielder allows a seemingly easy fly ball to drop to the ground before quickly making a third-to-second or second-to-first double play. While the base runners are no longer forced to run after an infield fly call is made, they can still choose to do so. In other words, the infield fly call only rules out the batter, but does not cause a total stoppage of play.