The infield fly rule, explained for umpires

What does the infield fly rule say?

The Official Baseball Rules define 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.

That sentence carries five conditions, and every one has to be true. It is a fly ball. It is fair. It is not a line drive or an attempted bunt. An infielder can catch it with ordinary effort. And there are runners on first and second, or the bases are loaded, with fewer than two out.

When those are met, the batter is out. Rule 5.09(a)(5) lists a declared infield fly among the ways a batter is out, and it applies whether or not the ball is caught.

High school and college games are played under their own rulebooks, which set out the infield fly in their own words. Read the definition in the code you are working that season before you rely on anything here.

Why does the infield fly rule exist?

With runners on first and second and nobody out, a routine pop up puts the runners in a bind. If they run and the ball is caught, they can be doubled off. If they hold and the ball is dropped on purpose, they are forced, and the defense can turn two or even three outs out of a ball the batter popped up.

The rule takes that choice away from the defense. Because the batter is already out, the force is removed and the runners can stay put. The umpire declares it for the benefit of the runners, which is how the rulebook puts it.

What does ordinary effort mean?

The rulebook defines ordinary effort as the effort a fielder of average skill at a position in that league or classification of leagues should exhibit on a play, with due consideration given to the condition of the field and weather conditions.

Two things follow. First, the standard moves with the level. Ordinary effort for a varsity shortstop is not the same as for a twelve year old. Second, the weather counts. A high pop up into a gusting wind or a low sun may not be an ordinary play for an infielder, even if it lands on the infield dirt.

The comment to the definition is direct about what the judgment is not. The umpire rules on whether an infielder could ordinarily have handled the ball, not on some arbitrary limitation such as the grass or the baselines. An outfielder who comes in and makes the catch does not stop it being an infield fly if an infielder could have handled it as easily. The pitcher, the catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield count as infielders for this rule.

How do you declare an infield fly?

The rule asks for the declaration immediately, as soon as it seems apparent that the ball will be an infield fly. Late is worse than never here, because runners decide what to do in the first second or two of the ball's flight.

Near the foul lines, declare "Infield fly, if fair." If it falls untouched and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If it falls untouched outside the baseline and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an infield fly.

Many crews confirm before the pitch that the situation is on, so that everyone knows who will make the call and nobody is surprised by it. A crew that has already confirmed the situation makes a cleaner call than one that recognises it mid-flight.

The infield fly is not an appeal play. The comment to the rule says so in those words: the umpire's judgment governs, and the decision should be made immediately.

What happens after the call?

The ball is alive. Runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or tag up and advance after it is touched, the same as on any fly ball. A declared infield fly that drops is not a dead ball and does not freeze the runners.

If an infielder intentionally drops the ball, the infield fly takes precedence over the intentional drop rule. The batter is out under the infield fly, the ball stays in play, and runners are not forced.

Two less common rulings belong in every umpire's memory. If a runner is touched by a declared infield fly while standing on his base, he is not out, though the batter still is. If interference is called during an infield fly, the ball stays alive until it is known whether the ball is fair or foul. If fair, both the runner who interfered and the batter are out. If foul, the runner is out and the batter returns to bat.

Situations that catch umpires out

The count of outs. It is only an infield fly with fewer than two out. With two out there is nothing to protect, because the runners are running on contact anyway.

The runners. First and second, or bases loaded, and nothing else. A runner on first alone, runners on first and third, or runners on second and third do not meet the definition.

The line drive. The rulebook defines a line drive as a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to a fielder without touching the ground, and excludes it from the infield fly by name.

The bunt. An attempted bunt popped up is excluded by name, however easy the catch.

The wind and the sun. Ordinary effort takes the conditions into account. If an infielder is fighting the ball, the play may not be ordinary, wherever it comes down.