When exactly is the infield fly rule called?

Question

I've been watching baseball for a long, long time and I still am not sure exactly what the situation has to be for the infield fly rule to be called. I know, obviously, that there have to be players on base, and I think? that there have to be less than 2 outs. Can anyone tell me for sure?

Answer 1

The infield fly rule is called any time there are runners on first and second base and less than two outs and the batter hits a fly ball (not a bunt or line drive) that can be handled with ordinary effort by an infielder.

It does not matter whether an infielder catches the ball on the outfield grass or whether an outfielder ultimately makes the catch -- or even if the ball is caught. The batter is out, the ball remains live, and runners may advance at their own risk. Runners must still tag up if the ball is caught. If the ball is not caught, the defense must tag the runners to put them out, because the force was removed when the batter-runner was declared out.

If a fly ball lands in foul territory between home and first base or home and third base and rolls or bounces fair before being touched, it is a fair ball and thus an infield fly. If a declared infield fly lands in fair territory between home and first and home and third and then ends up in foul territory between those points, the ball is simply foul and the batter is not out.

Answer 2

An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.” The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul. If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.

Answer 3

Anytime there are runners on base, that could be forced out if the ball were hit on the ground, with less than 2 outs, the infield fly rule is in effect if the batter pops up on the infield. The batter is automatically out. This prevents the infielders from intentionally dropping the pop up, in order to force a base runner that normally wouldn't advance on the pop up.

Answer 4

Infield fly rule is in effect with 1) runners on 1st and 2nd, or 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and 2) either 0 or 1 out.

The batter must hit a ball in the general infield area that can be caught without great effort.

The infield fly rule is enforced to keep fielding teams from turning double plays by dropping a fly ball, and forcing out two runners (hence there is no infield fly with only one runner on, as it assumes the batter is running).

Answer 5

yes there has 2 be less than two outs, and runners on base, and the ball has to go far enough for one of those runners to score or move up a base before the fielder catches it.

Answer 6

less than 2 out the ball is catchable by and infielder and with two men on anybase

Answer 7

There has to be runners on 1st or 2nd at least. And there has to be less than 2 outs. Runners can advance at their risk.

Answer 8

You're right that it's only called when there are less than two outs, and it's called when the bases are loaded or when there are runners at first and second base.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/definition_terms_2.jsp