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Any fielder is allowed to catch any fly ball he can.

If you are referring to the infield fly rule: under this rule, the hitter is called out and play continues as if the fly were caught even if no one catches it. It does not matter who catches it, but if the ball drops, the runner can tag up and run at his risk. The rule is only called when the ball seems certain to be catchable. The purpose of the rule is to prevent an infielder from intentionally dropping pop-up in order to get a double play.

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Q: Can an outfielder catch an infield fly?
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Continue Learning about General History

What player on the Brooklyn Dodgers was a hero in the 1955 World Series by catching a long fly ball hit by Yogi Berra?

Dodger outfielder, Sandy Amoros made a spectacular catch of a long fly ball hit by Yogi Berra. Amoros is credited for saving the series for the Dodgers.


What is a bloop in the baseball terminology?

A bloop is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder. Also known as a bloop single, a dying quail, or a duck snort.


What is considered the infield in baseball?

I believe this is instituted with a runner on base so that the infielder can't just let the ball drop in front of him and then turn a double play. The infield fly rule protects the runner already on base by calling the batter out immediately. The infield fly rule: A fair fly ball which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort with less than two outs and 1st and 2nd base, or all bases are occupied. The umpire shall signal the batter out immediatly so as to alert the baserunners. The object of this rule is to prevent infielders to purposely let a ball drop to get an easy double or triple play. As has been noted, the purpose of this rule is to prevent the defensive team from getting an easy double or triple play. To understand this better, consider what would happen in this situation if there were no infield fly rule, in other words, what did happen, on many occasions, before the rule was created. Braves v Dodgers, Braves batting, no outs, bases loaded. Braves batter hits a pop-up that can be easily caught by the Dodgers pitcher in fair territory. Catching the ball would result in one out. But, the runners cannot advance until they know whether the ball will be caught. A devious catcher might just let the ball drop untouched, then pick it up, step on home plate (runner at third out), then throw to third, where the third baseman steps on the bag (runner on second out), then throw to second, where the second baseman steps on the bag (runner on first out), completing a triple play. Now, the Braves COULD employ a different strategy, sending all runners to the next base as soon as the ball is hit. But, in this case, the fielder would actually CATCH the ball, and still be able to turn a triple play, by catching two of the runners off their bases without tagging up. So there is no effective strategy to prevent a triple play (or double play if runners only on first and second) on an infield fly. Or is there? Turns out, there was no need to adopt the infield fly rule, if the offense was as sly as the defense was. All runners would immediately return to their bases. The batter would immediately take off for first, and then turn toward second base. In the process, he would, of course, pass the runner who stayed at first. By rule, the batter is immediately out for passing a runner who should be ahead of him. Also by rule, this removes the force on the other runners, making it impossible to turn a double or triple play (so long as the runners remain on their respective bases). This would have exactly the same effect as an infield fly rule, right down to the irrelevance of whether the ball is actually caught or not. So, the infield fly rule is not necessary.


Have there been any changes to the baseball?

recently they have allowed umpires to use relplays for awkward homeruns. there was also one time when a rule was that a catch is not a catch until the player has full control of the ball. one player caught a ball and bobbled it all the way into the infield so the runers couldn't go because it had not been declared a catch yet.


Who hit the first infield home run in major league baseball?

A true infield home run never happened, four base errors have happened.

Related questions

Can a catcher catch an infield fly?

Umm Yea really anybody that's playing deffense during that inning can catch an infield fly hell even a center feilder could catch an infield fly if he's fast enough


What do you call a fly ball catch?

A "Fly out" or "Pop Out" -- generally if it is caught in the outfield it is called a "Fly Out", a ball in the infield is called a "Pop Out"


Can a baseball player catch an infield fly - where the ump has declared an infield fly - then throw to a base that a runner hasn't tagged up to yet and get a double play?

As soon as the ump calls the infield fly rule, the batter is out, but the runners can still advance at their own risk. To answer your question specifically, no, the fielder can't do that - that is the exact result that the infield fly rule was enacted to prevent! Usually when they call the infield fly rule, the baserunners go back to the bases relatively quickly, because the play is over.


Can a bunt be an infield fly ruling?

No, an attempted bunt can never be ruled an infield fly.


Infield fly runnes have to be taged?

Yes, they do have to tag up, unless the fielder, for whatever reason, does not catch the ball.


Does the infield fly rule apply to a bunted ball?

No, as long as it is a fair ball. Once the umpire signals the infield fly rule the batter is automatically out. However, if the ball is dropped and is ruled a foul ball, the umpire reverses his call and the batter continues his turn at bat. Nevertheless, the batter can not reach first from that batted ball. You will often find an umpire state "Infield fly, Batter is out if Fair". When the rule is in effect, the batter may not get on first base.


Who makes the infield fly call in baseball?

Any umpire may indicate the infield fly rule is in effect by yelling "Infield Fly" and extending his right hand above his head and pointing. However, the infield fly rule is in effect whether or not any umpire does this.


What position has priority over all other players for a fly ball?

Whoever calls for the fly ball should get it, but the shortstop controls the infield and the center fielder controls the outfield. An outfielder can call an infielder off of a fly ball too because it is easier to come in on a fly ball than to go out.


How many infield fly home runs?

that is impossible because if you hit an infield fly then your out and the ball is in the in field not over the wall.


What is a sentence for the word loping?

An example is... The outfielder went loping across the field to catch a fly ball. (Loping means to leap or stride)


When did the infield fly rule stop?

The infield fly rule still applies, and is in effect when the following situations are met: 1. Fewer than two outs 2. A fly ball is hit that an infielder can reasonably catch (umpires discretion) 3. There are runners on 1st and 2nd, or bases are loaded. 4. When the above conditions are met, the umpire will verbally call "infield fly rule" as soon as it is determined the ball is an infield fly. The batter is automatically out, and the runners do not have to advance, even is the ball is dropped. Note: This rule was established to prevent fielders from purposely dropping a fly ball to attempt a double play.


Is it an infield fly if the ball is in foul territory?

No. The infield fly rule is only for fly balls within the infield. The reason for this is so that a defender cannot intentionally drop a fly ball in order to create a double or triple play. If a fly ball is dropped in foul territory, no runners may advance.