Rule 2.00: Definition of Terms – On Offense FAQs

Yes, if the local league has adopted the courtesy runner rule. In leagues that are batting nine players (using the substitution rule 3.03), the courtesy runners must be players not currently in the batting order.  In Minor divisions and in leagues using continuous batting for Majors and higher divisions (Rule 4.04), the courtesy runners must be the last two outs.

Yes.  If the batter is hit by a pitch that they make no attempt to avoid, they will not be awarded 1^st base.  This rule needs to be interpreted carefully.  For example, if the batter “freezes” on a pitch that is well inside and hits the batter on the body, this should not be construed to mean that the batter made no attempt to avoid being hit, and the batter would be awarded 1^st base.

If this is a batted ball in flight, it is foul because it first landed in foul territory beyond 1^st or 3^rd base.  If this is a bounding ball, it is fair because it is over fair territory when bounding to the outfield beyond 1^st or 3^rd base.

This is an appeal play and any appeal must be an unmistakable act.  The batter-runner would be out only if the defensive player clearly appeals that the batter-runner missed 1^st base.  There are no inadvertent appeals, so if the tag of 1^st base (on the initial play) does not beat the batter-runner, they are safe, even if they do not touch 1^st base.  The fielder would need to then tag either the base or the batter-runner (before they return to and touch 1^st base) and appeal to the umpire, “he or she missed 1^st base”.  The umpire would then uphold the appeal and the batter-runner would be out.

The ball is immediately foul when, while on or over foul territory, it strikes any object foreign to the natural ground.  That could be a bat, helmet, or if the ball is in flight a tree branch, electrical wire, or light pole.  The same is not true if the batted ball strikes a foreign object over fair territory, such as a bat or helmet.  In that situation the ball remains live.  The fair-foul status of that ball is not determined until it is touched or settles.  You will sometimes hear the expression “there are no foreign objects over fair territory” and this is to what that expression refers.