Baseball Substitution Rules

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A baseball game lasts nine or more innings and teams have nine players on the field. Teams have both a 26-man roster and a 40-man roster. However, these nine players do not all tend to play the entirety of the game; some of them will most likely end up being subbed out. A substitution is the act of replacing one or more players of a team on the field with players from the dugout located beyond the foul lines. Of course, these players have to be on the 26-man roster. Read on to learn more about the substitution rules in baseball.

Substitution Rules in Baseball

In baseball, teams are allowed to make a player substitution anytime the ball is dead. This means that batters may be replaced in the middle of an at bat, but this is a rare occurrence. There is no limit to the number of substitutions except for the size of the roster, as players that leave the game in a substitution are not allowed to return.

Baseball Substitution Types

The following are possible substitutions teams can make:

• Pinch Hitter
• Pinch Runner
• Pitching Change
• Fielder Change

Teams can make unlimited substitutions throughout the course of a baseball game. However, once a player is substituted for another player, the substitute takes the spot in the batting order of the removed player, and the removed player cannot return to the game.

Players who are currently in the game are not allowed to be substituted for another player in the game.

Dead Balls

In baseball, teams are only allowed to make substitutions when the baseball is declared dead by umpires. The ball is declared dead by umpires for reasons like:

• the pitcher has the ball on the mound
• an interference is called
• a batter is hit by a pitch
• a foul ball is not caught
• a balk occurs
• the umpire calls time

Pinch Runner

Pinch runners are substitute base runners who replace runners who are on-base. Pinch runners tend to be fast and capable base stealers. Once a pinch runner is used, the player they replace must be taken out of the game.

Pinch Hitter

Pinch hitters are substitute batters who replace batters who are already in the lineup. Typically, pinch hitters are used to gain a more favorable matchup against the pitcher or to get a generally better hitter up to the plate in a big spot. Once a pinch hitter is used, the player they replace must be taken out of the game. Additionally, the pinch hitter must take the position of the player they replaced unless the manager wishes to make another substitution or shuffle their defense.

Pitching Changes

When a pitcher is substituted, the team's manager will notify the umpire-in-chief of the replacement and the substitute for the pitcher in the batting order. If a pitcher is substituted during the middle of the inning, they get a few warm-up pitches, and then they must resume play where the previous pitcher left off. Once a pitcher is substituted into the game, they must face three batters or complete the inning they enter.

Fielder Changes

Sometimes, managers will substitute one player for another late in a game in order to improve their defense. This is commonly done in close games, where one defensive blunder could be the difference between a loss and a win. This can be a bit of a gamble though, because if the other team ties things up, the manager will likely have downgraded offensively.

Additionally, some players will take the field mid-inning because of an injury to one of their teammates. In the event of an injury substitution, fielders are given five warm-up throws before play commences.

Starting Rotation

A starting rotation is a team’s group of starting pitchers. Unlike in the old days, baseball starting pitchers do not pitch every day. Instead, they have a set schedule in which they take turns starting games. More often than not, starting rotations feature five pictures. However, rotations can be reduced to three starters during the playoffs, and some teams opt to have six pitchers in their starting lineup if they have enough capable starters.

Pitch Count and Limit

A pitch limit is a strategy used by managers to maximize pitcher performance. It is a defined number or range of total pitches that managers make to determine how much playing time a pitcher should get before they are substituted. It is based on how many pitches are thrown by a pitcher on any given day and how many pitches they’ve thrown in the last five to seven days.

Double Switches

While outdated now that both leagues in Major League Baseball feature designated hitters, the double switch is a slightly more complex substitution tactic managers can use to improve their lineup while also replacing their pitcher. In short, the manager replaces one position player with their desired new pitcher and their current pitcher with a player who can play the position of the other fielder who is being subbed out. This allows the manager to manipulate their lineup so that their pitcher slot in the lineup doesn’t get as many at-bats and is commonly used late in games so that managers don’t have to worry about their pitcher stepping up to the plate in a big spot.

Ejection

In the event of an ejection, the manager will have to substitute a new player onto the field. The rules surrounding this substitution are the same as any other substitution, so the umpire must be informed of the new player entering the game before the player takes the field.

Additionally, if a manager is found to have substituted a player that has previously been removed from the game, that manager will be ejected.

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