List Of MLB Ground Rules
Ground rules are regulations that account for interference by unique features of MLB parks, keeping gameplay fair. There are a wide range of ground rules that dictate what happens if a part of the field or stadium affects the play. Here are all of the MLB’s universal ground rules.
List of MLB Ground Rules
Below is a list of universal ground rules across all 30 MLB parks:
- A ball that lands on the lip of the dugout (the top step) is in play; if it hits equipment that was left on the top step, the ball is dead.
- Players are not allowed to enter the dugout to make a catch, even with one step; however they may reach into the dugout.
- Batted or thrown balls that get lodged in the rotating signage behind home plate, or along the first base or third base stands, are out of play.
- Batted or thrown balls that come to rest on the rotating signage behind home plate or along first base or third base stands are in play.
- Any cameras or microphones that are permanently attached to railings or the outfield walls are in play.
- Robotic cameras or audio equipment that is attached to the backstop screen is considered part of the screen.
- Batted balls which strike the backstop camera or the guy-wires supporting the backstop are considered dead balls.
- Thrown balls which strike the backstop camera are considered in play.
- Balls that become lodged behind or under any canvas on the field tarp are out of play.
- Balls which strike the field tarp and rebound onto the playing field are in play.
- All yellow lines are in play.
- All additional screening that is set behind an out of play area such as the dugout, are considered out of play. Any ball which strikes that screening is dead, even if it bounces back onto the field.
- Unless home park rules differ, batted balls that become lodged in the roof above fair territory are considered dead balls, and all runners will be awarded two bases if they become lodged in the roof.
- Batted balls in fair territory which, while in flight, happen to strike any part of a higher wall at a point above a lower wall, and then bound over the lower wall, are home runs.
- Batted balls in fair territory which, while in flight, happen to strike the front of a lower wall and then bound over a higher wall are considered dead balls, and all runners are awarded two bases.
FAQ
What are some important ground rules in baseball?
The most important ground rules are that teams must clear the playing field within 15 minutes of game time and that runners are awarded two bases each if a batted ball hits a wall below out-of-bounds before leaving the park. Another important ground rule is that fielders may not enter the dugout to make a catch, although they may reach into it.