Infield Fly Rule

[CrewChief]

What is an infield fly and how did it come to be?

What is the infield fly rule?

[Rule 2.00 – Definition of Terms] in the Official Baseball Rules defines an infield fly as: “a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out.”

When an infield fly is declared by the umpires, the batter is automatically out [Rule 6.05 (e)], and the base runners are not required to run, but they may do so at their own risk.

Essentially, if there are less than two outs and a force out is possible at third base, the infield fly rule may be invoked, which then relieves the base runners from being forced to advance.

Where did this rule come from?

The infield fly rule was first written into the Official Baseball Rules in 1895. Prior to that time infielders were free to drop infield pop-ups and then could force out runners who did not run for fear of being doubled-off if the ball was caught. In the age before fielding gloves had been developed, catching the ball, even a common pop fly was no sure thing, so there was no real reason for the rule. But, after gloves came on the scene and catching fly balls had become routine, quick thinking infielders could turn pop-ups into double plays and even an occasional triple play if the batter did not run the ball out.

The infield fly rule prevents such abuses from occurring.

However, the umpires must call the infield fly immediately when it becomes apparent that the batted ball will become an infield fly. He should call the infield fly verbally and loudly enough that the base runners can know that the rule is in effect. However, whether a fly ball is an infield fly or not is a judgment call on the part of the umpires – that is: that the ball could ordinarily be handled by an infielder with ordinary effort.

Note that the rule states that the ruling by the umpire is to be made based on “whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder -- not by some arbitrary limitation, such as the grass, or the base lines”. He is to further rule “that a ball is an infield fly even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder”.

Then, finally the rule states that if a fielder intentionally drops the ball -- the ball remains in play, (which by virtue of Rule 6.05 (l) would otherwise result in a dead ball). The infield fly rule takes priority.