# Baseball question-what if a runner gets hit? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 27, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636 "2010-08-27T05:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/1 "2010-08-27T05:26:28Z")
So the batter steps up and thwacks the ball a mighty thwack, sending it flying into the outfield. He’s off and running, passes first, when by some unfortunate chance the ball, when thrown back in by an outfielder anxious to get him out, smacks into his head, knocking him out. It’s obviously a weird accident-what happens next? And has this ever happened, perhaps instead by the first-baseman throwing to second? ---
**Author:** ![High\_Heat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@High\_Heat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Heat)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/2 "2010-08-27T06:09:32Z")
If he is hit by the ball from the bat he is out. If he is hit by a thrown ball and is knocked out he again would be out (with a tag). ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/3 "2010-08-27T06:32:33Z")
> [@High\_Heat](#): > > If he is hit by a thrown ball and is knocked out he again would be out (with a tag). To clarify this… If a runner is hit by a thrown ball, he is not out, and the ball is still in play\*. If the runner is knocked out by said ball, then presumably they would quickly be tagged out by a fielder once the ball was retrieved (unless they were lucky enough to fall directly on the bag after losing consciousness). - this assumes that the runner did not deliberately interfere with the throw. If, in the umpire’s judgement, the runner interfered, he is out and the ball is dead. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/4 "2010-08-27T07:14:12Z")
This would be obstruction. Unless an intentional act by the runner causes the hit, it is obstruction by the defense. If it was an intententional act by the runner, such as jumping in front of the ball, it would be interference by the offense, and the runner would be out. If it is obstruction, and a play is being made on the runner, the play would end immediatly. Otherwise, the play would continue until all actions concluded, such as other runners continuing on to reach bases. Then there would be a timeout. The umpire would decide how to award bases which would have been reached if the obstruction had not occurred. If the player hit by the ball cannot continue, a substitute will be brought in. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/5 "2010-08-27T07:42:08Z")
[For further reference](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2010/official_rules/2010_OfficialBaseballRules.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/6 "2010-08-27T08:04:14Z")
The situation described in the OP is actually pretty common. It’s a normal thing for a fielder to throw the ball to a base at the same time that a runner is trying to reach that base, and often the result is that the throw hits the runner. Play just continues; no rule has been broken, so if the runner reaches the base before the fielder can tag him he is safe. I’ve never seen obstruction called in cases like that; the only time I have seen that is when a fielder stands in the runner’s way so that he can’t run directly to the base. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/7 "2010-08-27T10:38:11Z")
Moving from General Questions to The Game Room–all about sports, gaming, etc. **samclem** Moderator, GQ ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/8 "2010-08-27T16:13:07Z")
I believe this would be the applicable rule: > [@](#): > > 7.08 Any runner is out when— > (a) (1) He runs more than three feet away from his baseline to avoid being tagged > unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A > runner’s baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight > line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely; or > (2) after touching first base, he leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning his > effort to touch the next base; > Rule 7.08(a) Comment: Any runner after reaching first base who leaves the baseline heading for his dugout or his position believing that there is no further play, may be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run the bases. Even though an out is > called, the ball remains in play in regard to any other runner. > This rule also covers the following and similar plays: Less than two out, score tied last of ninth inning, runner on first, batter hits a ball out of park for winning run, the runner on first passes second and thinking the home run automatically wins the game, cuts across diamond toward his bench as batter-runner circles bases. In this case, the base runner would be called out “for abandoning his effort to touch the next base” and batter-runner permitted to continue around bases to make his home run valid. If there are two out, home run would not count (see Rule 7.12). This is not an appeal play. > PLAY. Runner believing he is called out on a tag at first or third base starts for the dugout and progresses a reasonable distance still indicating by his actions that he is out, shall be declared out for abandoning the bases. > > (b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to > make a play on a batted ball; > Rule 7.08(b) Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not. If, however, the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders the fielder, he shall not be called out unless, in the umpire’s judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or foul territory, is intentional. If the umpire declares the hindrance intentional, the following penalty shall > apply: With less than two out, the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter out. With two out, the umpire shall declare the batter out. > If, in a run-down between third base and home plate, the succeeding runner has advanced and is standing on third base when the runner in a run-down is called out for offensive interference, the umpire shall send the runner standing on third base back to second base. This same principle applies if there is a run-down between second and third base and succeeding runner has reached second (the reasoning is that no runner shall advance on an interference play and a runner is considered to occupy a base until he legally has reached the next succeeding base). The key phrase in 7.08b is **He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball**. In my judgement as an umpire, the scenario described is not intentional interference. The runner is focused on advancing to second base. The thrown ball hit him by coincidence, not by intentional action on his part. The ball is still in play, and if a defensive player picks it up and tags the unconscious runner, he is called out. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/9 "2010-08-27T16:38:37Z")
7.06a and 7.06b are the relevant rules, so long as there is no intentional interference by the runner. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/10 "2010-08-27T20:22:18Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > The situation described in the OP is actually pretty common. It’s a normal thing for a fielder to throw the ball to a base at the same time that a runner is trying to reach that base, and often the result is that the throw hits the runner. Play just continues; no rule has been broken, so if the runner reaches the base before the fielder can tag him he is safe. I’ve never seen obstruction called in cases like that; the only time I have seen that is when a fielder stands in the runner’s way so that he can’t run directly to the base. Yeah, this happens what, once a game on average? 99% of the time, the runner getting hit by the throw will have no idea where the ball is, so they couldn’t be expected to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/11 "2010-08-27T20:44:00Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Yeah, this happens what, once a game on average? 99% of the time, the runner getting hit by the throw will have no idea where the ball is, so they couldn’t be expected to avoid it. Yep. 99% of the time it’s a throw from first to second (or second to third) because of an error or bobble. The ball is coming from behind the runner, so there is no way they can deliberately interfere with the throw. They were just trying for the base. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/12 "2010-08-27T23:22:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > This would be obstruction. Here’s the definition given in Rule 2.00: > [@](#): > > OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. The fielder who threw the ball in this scenario obviously had possession of it when he took the action, so it doesn’t sound like obstruction applies. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/13 "2010-08-28T15:18:57Z")
I’m going to buck the collective wisdom of this board (which usually gets me shot down) and point out that the rules don’t actually mention what happens should the runner be knocked unconsious — which is highly unlikely, by the way — and the umpires may invoke rule 9.01(c) which reads > [@](#): > > Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules. It would be possible that the umpire would award the runner the next base if he felt the runner would have arrived safely had he not been knock out. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/14 "2010-08-28T19:02:00Z")
I actually played in a game where a player was knocked out by a ball. He got hit in the head by a pitched ball, and seemed OK. He started jogging to first base, and halfway there he started leaning toward the dugout and started running in ever-shortening circles (like a frisbee on it’s side) until he fell down. The umpire allowed a pinch runner to start at first base even though the original player never made it there. The player was fine afterward. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/15 "2010-08-29T03:04:27Z")
After a hit batsman, the ball is dead and a substitution may be made. In fact it happens reasonably often that a hit player is taken out for a pinch runner before he gets to first. It is also permissible to put in a pinch runner for a batter who hits an out-of the park home run or a ground rule double if for example he tripped over first base and sprained his ankle (how embarrassing). The batter doesn’t have to make it to those bases first. But when a thrown ball hits the runner it is live and no substitutions may be made until the ball is dead. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/16 "2010-08-29T03:09:48Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > After a hit batsman, the ball is dead and a substitution may be made. In fact it happens reasonably often that a hit player is taken out for a pinch runner before he gets to first. It is also permissible to put in a pinch runner for a batter who hits an out-of the park home run or a ground rule double if for example he tripped over first base and sprained his ankle (how embarrassing). The batter doesn’t have to make it to those bases first. > > But when a thrown ball hits the runner it is live and no substitutions may be made until the ball is dead. I remember watching a movie about Babe Ruth where they showed him only running to first after hitting a home run, and having someone else run the rest of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/17 "2010-08-29T03:30:18Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > After a hit batsman, the ball is dead and a substitution may be made. In fact it happens reasonably often that a hit player is taken out for a pinch runner before he gets to first. It is also permissible to put in a pinch runner for a batter who hits an out-of the park home run or a ground rule double if for example he tripped over first base and sprained his ankle (how embarrassing). The batter doesn’t have to make it to those bases first. > > But when a thrown ball hits the runner it is live and no substitutions may be made until the ball is dead. I’m too tired to research the rule book, but there was a famous play in college women’s softball where a woman hit her first ever homerun that would have won the game for her team in the playoffs. She tore her ACL rounding first base, and the ruling was that she could not have a pinch runner or have assistance from her teammates. She had to complete the baserunning or be declared out. Her opponents decided to carry her around the bases, lowering her good leg to touch every base, so she got the HR and won the game. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xVlKtI7yd_s/hqdefault.jpg "Softball player carried around bases by opponents") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd_s) (I guess after watching that it wasn’t a game-winner.) ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/18 "2010-08-29T04:18:07Z")
Better video with context: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttkBP2XDZvE&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttkBP2XDZvE&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/19 "2010-08-30T16:13:53Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > I’m too tired to research the rule book, but there was a famous play in college women’s softball where a woman hit her first ever homerun that would have won the game for her team in the playoffs. She tore her ACL rounding first base, and the ruling was that she could not have a pinch runner or have assistance from her teammates. She had to complete the baserunning or be declared out. > > Her opponents decided to carry her around the bases, lowering her good leg to touch every base, so she got the HR and won the game. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd\_s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd_s) > > (I guess after watching that it wasn’t a game-winner.) It was definitely a game-winner in terms of sportsmanship. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-question-what-if-a-runner-gets-hit/551636/20 "2010-08-31T01:09:09Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > I’m too tired to research the rule book, but there was a famous play in college women’s softball where a woman hit her first ever homerun that would have won the game for her team in the playoffs. She tore her ACL rounding first base, and the ruling was that she could not have a pinch runner or have assistance from her teammates. She had to complete the baserunning or be declared out. > > Her opponents decided to carry her around the bases, lowering her good leg to touch every base, so she got the HR and won the game. College softball rules must be different from MLB rules. In MLB, the umpire would have allowed a pinch runner to complete the home run. Here’s the rule: > [@](#): > > 5.10 The ball becomes dead when an umpire calls “Time.” The umpire-in-chief shall call > “Time”— > (c) When an accident incapacitates a player or an umpire; > (1) If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent him from proceeding to a base to which he is entitled, as on a home run hit out of the playing field, or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner shall be permitted to complete the play. I note that rule does not cover the OP’s situation. So unless that situation is covered elsewhere, I’m going to stand by my 9.01(c) belief until shown otherwise.