OFFENSIVE INTERFERENCE
**READ IN TANDEM WITH OBSTRUCTION
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Definition of Terms: OFFENSIVE INTERFERENCE is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.
PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE: The runner is out and the ball is dead. All other runners shall return to the last base that was in the judgment of the umpire, legally touched at the time of the interference.
Rule 6.01(a)(11) - It is interference by a runner when... A fair ball touches him on fair territory before touching a fielder. If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, and touches a runner immediately back of him, or touches the runner after having been deflected by a fielder, the umpire shall not declare the runner out for being touched by a batted ball. In making such decision the umpire must be convinced that the ball passed through, or by, the fielder, and that no other infielder had the chance to make a play on the ball. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the runner deliberately and intentionally kicks such a batted ball on which the infielder has missed a play, then the runner shall be called out for interference.
Rule 5.09(b)(7) - If a runner is touching his base when touched by an Infield Fly, he is not out, although the batter is out. If a runner is touched by an Infield Fly when he is not touching his base, both the runner and batter are out.
Everyone is aware of this basic rule: A runner is out when hit by a batted ball. But it's not that cut-and-dry.
If a batted ball passes through, or by, an infielder...but another infielder still has an attempt to make a play on the ball, the runner in between those two fielders can still be called out when hit by the batted ball. EXAMPLE: R2 at second base. High-bouncing ball hit to the left side. The third baseman comes over and but can't reach the grounder. The shortstop, behind the third baseman, is preparing to field it, but the ball hits R2 headed to third base. The runner is out for interference.
Runners standing on a base will be called out if a batted ball hits them in fair territory, provided the conditions in red are met. The only exception is the Infield Fly rule we've listed. Don't sweat it: you'll be hard-pressed to find an umpire who has seen an Infield Fly pop-up hit a runner standing on a base.
Rule 6.01(a)(2) - It is interference by a runner when... he intentionally deflects the course of a foul ball in any manner.
Rule 6.01(a)(5) - It is interference by a batter or a runner when… any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate.
Rule 6.01(a)(6) - It is interference by a runner when... if, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call out the batter-runner because of the action of his teammate. In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by a runner.
Rule 6.01(a)(10) - It is interference by a runner when...he fails to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball.
Rule 6.01(a)(10) - It is interference by a runner when...he intentionally interferes with a thrown ball.
Provided that if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the runner comes in contact with one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not declare the runner out for coming in contact with a fielder other than the one the umpire determines to be entitled to field such a ball.
Penalty For Interference Comment: A runner who is adjudged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out whether it was intentional or not. If, however, the runner has contact with a legally occupied base when he hinders the fielder, he shall not be called out unless, in the umpire’s judgment, such hindrance, whether it occurs on fair or foul territory, is intentional.
Infield Fly Comment: If interference is called during an Infield Fly, the ball remains alive until it is determined whether the ball is fair or foul. If fair, both the runner who interfered with the fielder and the batter are out. If foul, even if caught, the runner is out and the batter returns to bat.
Well, hang on -- we just said a runner is out if hit by a batted ball while touching his base. But, no, this red text is describing a runner hindering a fielder making the play on the ball. EXAMPLE: R1 at first base. One out. Batter hits a pop-up to the first baseman. R1 stays on his legally occupied base and scrunches his shoulders inward in an attempt not to hinder the first baseman. First baseman collides with R1 and the ball drops into foul ground. This is a foul ball if you judge R1 did not intentionally interfere with the fielder.
QUICK NOTE: "Legally occupied" means that R1 is entitled to his base when the ball is in flight, even with the batter-runner advancing toward first. As soon as that fly ball hits the ground, however, he is legally forced to second base.
GOLDEN RULES
If a runner interferes with a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball, he’s out, intentional or not.
If a batted ball hits a runner before an infielder or infielders behind that infielder can make a play on it, he’s out, intentional or not.
If a batted ball is deflected, runners cannot be called out if the ball then hits them.
If a runner INTENTIONALLY interferes with a batted ball or a fielder with the intent to break up a double play, the runner will be out and so will the batter-runner. This is a severe penalty meant to discourage intentional interference.
If a runner INTENTIONALLY interferes with a thrown ball, that runner is out.
If a runner who has scored or who has just been put out, including the batter after a caught third strike, interferes with a play on a following runner, that following runner will be called out.
SITUATION: Runner at first. No outs. A weak pop-up is hit to the first baseman. The runner on first attempts to return to first base and bumps into the first baseman. This is deemed unintentional by the first-base umpire, and so the runner is out, while the batter-runner is given first base in accordance with the ending of Rule 6.01(a)(10) above.
COMMENTS: Golden Rule #1. This is a great example of a basic interference call. As the announcers point out, Gregory Polanco is basically in no-man’s-land here. The fielder has every right to attempt to field the ball, and Polanco must avoid him at all costs.
Golden Rule #4 hypothetical: Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon comes out and most likely wants this to be deemed intentional somehow so that he can get two outs on the play. When the second umpire joins the discussion, you can see his lips mouth the word “intentional,” so this is probably what they were discussing.
SITUATION: Batted ball deflects off the first baseman's glove and hits the runner.
COMMENTS: Golden Rule #3. Even with the second baseman in obvious position to make a play, there is no call necessary. The ensuing play at first base is what umpires call a "bang-bang play" or a "whacker."
Golden Rule #2 hypothetical: If this batted ball had not been deflected, the second baseman was in position to make a play on the ball, so this runner would be out.
SITUATION: Runner at first. Two outs. On a gap shot into left center, the runner at first is on his horse, attemping to score on the play. The throw comes into the infield, and the runner is caught in a rundown. The runner jumps in the air in a clear attempt to make contact with a throw and is called out for interference.
COMMENTS: Golden Rule #5. At first glance, it appears the tag is the third out. But watch the plate umpire. He begins pointing at the runner a split-second before the tag is applied. Umpires don’t point at a runner and lift their fist high into the air when calling an ordinary tag-out. The umpire is signaling that the runner is out for interference. While the runner does not make contact with the thrown ball, he is still called out for interfering with the fielders.
TEACHABLE MOMENT: After the interference call is made, why does the umpire point at third base?! Our Rules Resource shines a light on the basic concepts of common baseball rules. After digesting the basics, then it's your turn to read the rulebook and make notes of the dozen or so one-in-a-million obscure situations and "case plays" that the rulebook highlights. This is one of them:
Rule 6.01(a) Penalty for Interference Comment: If, in a run-down between third base and home plate, the succeeding runner has advanced and is standing on third base when the runner in a run-down is called out for offensive interference, the umpire shall send the runner standing on third base back to second base.
It's very possible this umpire is pointing at the runner who was advancing to third base during the rundown (not shown) and then pointing him back to second base. It's moot because the interference was the third out of the inning anyway.
SITUATION: Runner at first. One out. A little nubber toward the pitcher sends everything in motion. The pitcher picks up the ball, attempts to tag Alex Rodriguez, who swats the pitcher’s hand away, sending the ball flying. The runner at first, Derek Jeter, comes around to score, and Rodriguez ends up on second. After a conference, the umpires determine interference has occurred. Rodriguez is out, and Jeter is returned to first base.
COMMENTS: There is no rule that explicitly says a runner cannot swat at a player attempting to tag him. However, MLB Umpires use an Umpire’s Manual that includes interpretations of rules as a complement to the rulebook itself. In Section 6.1 of the Manual, the following passage is found: “While contact may occur between a fielder and runner during a tag attempt, a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act, such as grabbing, tackling, intentionally slapping at the baseball, punching, kicking, flagrantly using his arms or forearms ... to commit an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the bases.” And while it isn’t stated in the actual rulebook, it’s still clear that the runner hindered the fielder’s attempt to field the ball and complete a tag. Also note the first-base umpire's view of the interference is shielded by the first-baseman. We'll say this falls under the category of Golden Rule #1.
Does Reggie Jackson intentionally interfere with this thrown ball?
Does Russell Martin intentionally interfere with this thrown ball?
SITUATION: Runners at first and second. One out. Remember that. A fly ball is hit between home and first base. The first baseman and the runner at first collide as the first baseman is attempting to make a play on the ball. The runner at first base is eventually declared out and the batter returns to bat.
COMMENTS: This involves multiple rules. Did you notice what else was happening during the play? There are runners at first and second, less than two outs, and a fly ball is hit in the infield. The Infield Fly is in effect. You see the umpire pointing to the sky, which is the signal for Infield Fly. He has verbalized this, as well. He is also pointing at the interference that has taken place.
Read the Infield Fly comment above. When interference takes place, the umpires are to let the play continue if the Infield Fly is in effect, and if the ball winds up fair, both the batter and runner are out. But in this case, as you see in the replay at the end of the video, the ball initially landed fair but rolled foul before first base. Because the umpires have determined the catcher did not touch it in fair territory, it is a foul ball. If the catcher had touched the ball in fair territory in this clip, it would’ve have been a fair ball, and both the batter and runner at first base would have been out. This is an obscure rule that’s basically a footnote in the rulebook, and even the professional umpires in the clip have to get together and remember it. Or perhaps they’re already aware of this rule and are getting together to simply determine whether or not the ball was touched in fair territory. Either way, the final outcome is a runner at second, two outs, batter continues his at-bat. The umpires 100% got this call correct. Lastly, doesn’t it look like the first baseman intentionally ran into the runner in order to buy the call? He absolutely did. Fielders will do this every chance they get. The runner must be more aware here and give the first baseman plenty of room. Or tell his teammate to not hit it there next time.
Don't forget the orange text in Rule 6.01(a)(10) -- high pop-up in the infield, three players converging. Who is the one fielder entitled to be making a play on it? Evidently the umpires decided the first baseman was the entitled fielder, hence the interference call. What a train wreck!
TIPS FOR UMPIRES
When is a fielder no longer "in the act of fielding a batted ball"? The long-established standard found in Umpire Manuals is a fielder can fumble the fielding attempt and is still protected with a "step and a reach" from the initial area he fumbled the fielding attempt. EXAMPLE: R2 at second base. Grounder to the shortstop. He attempts to field the ball, but it hits the heel of his glove and drops to the ground about a foot in front of him. He takes a small step forward and reaches down to to recover the ball. R2 slams into him, knocking him to the ground. This is interference by the runner.
There is a known "blind spot" in OBR text, in that fielders are protected when fielding a batted ball and fielding a throw...but there's no mention of protection while in the actual act of throwing itself (other than intentional interference by a runner on a thrown ball). However, MLB Umpire Manuals clarify that a fielder's act of "fielding a batted ball" includes both receiving the ball into the glove and completing a subsequent throw.
See BATTER INTERFERENCE for batter-specific interference rules, especially on steal attempts.
Yes, offensive interference and OBSTRUCTION are pretty heavy concepts, and they're not things you'll pick up just by reading. We strongly suggest going down a rabbit hole on MLB YouTube to see interference and obstruction rules being enforced to gain a better idea of both concepts.
QUICK QUIZ
R2 at second base. R1 at first. No outs. Ground ball to the third baseman behind the bag. He runs and touches third base for the force-out. As he's attempting to now throw to first base to put out the batter-runner, R2 sliding into third base reaches out and grabs the third baseman's leg, and the throw goes into the stands. Where are the runners placed?
R2 is out on the force play at third base. Batter-Runner is out due to the interference by R2. R1 is returned to first base.
R3 at third base. Batter hits a grounder to the first baseman, who quickly steps on first base to retire the Batter-Runner. The first baseman then sees R3 breaking for home and throws the ball to his catcher. The Batter-Runner, seeing this play develop, moves into the path of the throw and waves his wildly to distract the catcher receiving the throw. What is the call?
R3 is out due to the interference by the Batter-Runner.
One out. R1 at first base, stealing on the pitch. Batter hits a grounder to the second baseman. R1 sees the second baseman waiting for the grounder and abruptly stops in front of him with the obvious intent to block his view of the ball. The ball kicks off the second baseman's glove and rolls into the outfield. Where are the runners placed?
If deemed a willful and deliberate act, both R1 and the Batter-Runner are declared out.
One out. R1 at first base, stealing on the pitch. Batter hits a line drive to the shortstop. R1 turns and runs in a straight line back to first base. The shortstop's throw to first base hits R1's helmet and bounces into the outfield. R1 retouches first base and makes it to second base safely. But should R1 be called out for interference?
If you determine R1 did nothing intentional to interfere with this thrown ball, there is no call to be made.
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