Baseball Force Plays
Sometimes, in baseball, a base runner finds himself in a situation where he has no choice but to leave the base he is currently occupying, even if he knows he will most likely be thrown or tagged out if he does so. This might occur if the base runner is a batter-runner who must advance to first base on a hit, or if one of his fellow runners is going to be forced to run to the base he is currently on. These types of plays are known as “force plays,” and they can be a key factor in the result of a baseball game. Read on to learn all about them.
What Are Force Plays in Baseball?
Base runners are required to advance the bases in order of first base, second base, third base, and home plate to score a run. This is called the circuit of bases. A force play happens when a player is no longer allowed to occupy their current base and must advance to the next. Base runners do not have to complete the circuit all at once. In fact, they can secure their position on base when the ball is live. However, only one base runner can occupy a base at a given time.
Force Outs
Force outs, also known as force plays, happen when a runner must advance to the next base because a runner behind him is approaching his current base, and he is put out as a result. The baserunner is forced to leave his previously occupied base because the batter becomes a runner and must occupy first base. This creates a domino effect forcing all base runners to advance.
The most common site of a force play in baseball is first base, as batter-runners are required to run to first base whenever the ball is hit onto the ground. That being said, there are specific scenarios in which there are force outs at each base. The scenarios in which there are force outs at each base are:
- Force at First Base: All plays in which the ball has hit the ground.
- Force at Second Base: There must already be a runner on first.
- Force at Third Base: There must already be runners on first and second.
- Force at Home Plate: The bases must be loaded.
How to Record a Force Out
In order to record a force out, defensive players must step on the base while in possession of the ball. For example, if the second baseman has fielded the baseball, he can simply step on second base before the runner (who was previously on first base) reaches it, and that runner is out. Since the original runner was forced off his previous base to advance to a base that had just been tagged by a fielder, that runner is considered to be forced out.
Fielder's Choice
A fielder's choice occurs when there is a runner already on base, the batter hits a ground ball, and the fielders decide to put out the pre-existing runner at his next base rather than the batter-runner. Therefore, the batter-runner reaches first base safely. Batters who reach first base on a fielder's choice are not credited with a hit, since they would have otherwise been out if the runner had not been there. However, if a run scores on a fielder’s choice, the batter is credited with an RBI.
FAQ
Where are the force plays if the bases are loaded?
In the event that the bases are loaded, there are force plays at every single base. This is why when there are runners on second and third managers will often opt to intentionally walk a batter to load the bases.
What base in baseball always has a force play?
First base is the only base in baseball that always has a force play. This is why a majority of the outs recorded in the field happen at first base, and why the first baseman has such a constant role defensively.
What is a force out in baseball?
A force out in baseball is a defensive scenario in which a defender can touch the base while holding the ball to get the batter out. This type of out does not require the runner to be tagged or the ball to be caught on the fly. In order for a force out to be possible on a base besides first base, there must be a runner that is forced to advance to the next base in the event of a batted ball touching the ground.