The Infield Fly Rule: A Thorough Explanation

A complete look at the Infield Fly rule, and it’s younger brother the intentional drop rule.

At one point I say this is in Rule 2, that applies to the NCAA rules. In MLB’s rulebook, which I actually read in this video, it is in the Definition of Terms section, which is now at the end of the rulebook.

0:00 - Introduction
0:49 - Basics
4:10 - Foul Balls
5:52 - The “Infield”
6:22 - Umps Rule
7:35 - Intentional Drop Rule
10:37 - Interference
12:06- Why not only first?
13:17 - Recap

[Joekuh]

As an umpire, I appreciate this detailed explanation

[Jdwray]

I had to explain this to a coach of a 12u team. Bases loaded, no out, popup to short. I immediately call infield fly. Shortstop drops it (not on purpose). Runner on 1st goes 3/4 way 2nd, retreats and is thrown out. Coach tried to convince me it's a dead ball. Between innings I had to pull the rule up to show him that runners may advance at their own risk

[MH-Tesla]

Under high school rules and rules for Little League or lower levels than high school, the rules include that if the umpire forgets to call the infield fly rule, it still applies. Then the rulebook continues by saying, it is up to the runners to know when the infield fly rule applies even if the umpire does not call it.

[hugoduzit]

I have enough of an understanding, don’t think I can ever truly wrap my head around it lmao

[davidrobins]

I've been watching this playlist in order from the start, having come from a place of zero knowledge of baseball, and the videos have been great, with clear explanations of concepts. However, this one left me totally flummoxed. The section from 0:50 left me wondering "what the heck is this even about? What's the thing here? When is this "infield fly rule" invoked? What is he going on about?" This just didn't mesh with the understanding of the game I've got up to this point.
I went to Wikipedia, and the first few lines answered all of these questions. Quote:

"The infield fly rule is a rule of baseball and softball that treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the ball is caught, even if the infielder fails to catch it or drops it on purpose. The umpire's declaration of an infield fly means that the batter is out (and all force plays are removed) regardless of whether the ball is caught. The rule exists solely to prevent the defense from executing a double play or triple play by deliberately failing to catch a ball that an infielder could catch with ordinary effort.

"A ball batted into the air subjects baserunners to a dilemma. If the ball is caught, they must return to their original base; if not caught, the batter becomes a runner and certain runners are forced to advance to the next base. Baserunners study the fielder and advance only far enough from the base to ensure that they can return safely if the ball is caught. If a presumed catch becomes a non-catch, forced runners must run forward instead of back. This creates an advantage for the defense in intentionally failing to execute an easy catch, which the infield fly rule exists to remove."

[End quote]

Now I understand it perfectly, and the rest of the video makes sense.

So I will give this as constructive criticism of this video from a learner's standpoint: the whole point and crux of what's going on with this rule just wasn't made clear at the start, with the result that nothing made sense. This is not to detract from the overall quality of your teaching, which is great. Hopefully the above Wikipedia quote clears things up for anyone else who is reading this and who was equally confused.

[OlivierVanDerVreken]

One of the best IFR explanation, thank you!

[brandonward]

I prefer this simple life relating description by Rooster, played by Al Pacino in Righteous Kill
Rooster : "You know what I think about before I pull the trigger? I think about the infield fly rule. I love that rule. It assumes the worst of everybody. It says sorry batter you're a smuck for poppin' up with runners on and you stupid infielder you don't get to cheat and drop the ball just because you caught a break. My favorite part, the batter's out but the runners advance at their own risk. That's the way life should be, you can be a mofo at your own risk... or not."

[DuckMallard]

Outstanding, Sir. Great video explanation.

[jayhawk]

Is a runner called out also if the batter interferes on an infield fly? The batter cannot be called out twice. Excellent explanation, by the way!

[thomaswolf]

Good explanation. I wonder if you believe the infield fly rule was correctly called in the famous Atlanta-St. Louis playoff game. I do.

[twest]

In 2022 Xander Bogaerts turned a double play after intentionally letting a ball drop. I was totally confused, and had to look up the fact that the IFR didn't apply to runner on first only (after playing little league through HS and watching for 45 years). Since he didn't touch the ball at all, the 'dropped fly rule' didn't apply ether. It was weird to see.

[Neckelism]

Suddenly the FIFA Football offside rule is very easy to understand.

[theburnetts]

Another question - how does the umpire determine who is an infielder and who is an outfielder for the purposes of the infield fly rule? Let's say the team is in an extreme shift and the third baseman has been moved in to right field. He is sort of positioned behind the second baseman but in front of the right fielder. If a pop up went to him and he had to drift back 15 feet before making the play "with ordinary effort" would that be an infield fly even though by that time the third baseman is pretty much in right field? I am just curious as to how an umpire would determine before the pitch which players are deemed to be infielders based on their positioning.

[theburnetts]

One question - at 4:20 you said the following: "if a declared infield fly falls untouched outside the baseline and bounces fair before passing first or third base it is an infield fly". Is that correct? So the batter hits a pop up in the infield that is close to the line. The umpire calls out "infield fly if fair", the ball hits the ground in foul territory and then rolls fair before being touched. That is an infield fly? I never knew that.

[killerb]

The Infield Fiy Rule should be renamed the "InfieldER Fly Rule". All you need for the Infield Fly Rule to take effect (regardless of trying to assert your opinion as fact only to hide behind "it's my opinion") is the following:

1) Force play at 3rd base (runners on 1st and 2nd or bases loaded)
2) Less than two outs
3) A non-bunted pop up
4) The potential for an INFIELDER (or anyone playing the infield at the beginning of the play) to, in the umpire's judgment, catch it with ordinary effort.
5) The ball to land in fair territory if it's NOT caught.

So if your infielders were The Flash, Sonic the Hedgehog, Nightcrawler from the X-Men, and Speedy Gonzales, then an Infield Fly can be called at the freaking warning track because players like that could catch the ball from anywhere with ordinary effort.

[DjStalin]

I have an arm band when I umpire. In the band, I have a cheat sheet with diagrams and rules for reminder. As an umpire, it is easier to call these situations when you have two or more umpires on the field. When working as a one man unit, it is difficult to call a game without blowing calls.

[alanhess]

One little clarification of the intentionally drop rule. It seems many people think that if the ball is touched by the glove, but drops to the ground the rule should be called. That's not true. The umpire must determine the fielder intentionally dropped the ball. Guiding the ball to the ground or opening the glove after having the ball is intentional. The fielder taking his eyes off the ball or otherwise misplaying the ball after it hits his glove is not intentional.
For those of you who ask how the umpire can determine the intent of the fielder, I have to say after you umpire a couple hundred games, you will easily recognize an intentional drop.

[MaydayAggro]

Clarification: the batter is out WHEN the ball is determined to be fair, which is at the time it is touched, hits the ground past first or third, or stops moving.

[kmlobe]

Scenario that happened to my team this weekend, Bases loaded, 1 out. Ball gets popped up to my short stop, Infield fly is clearly called by both umpires. Ball is caught, runner on 2nd does not tag up, short stop steps on 2nd for the 3rd out of the inning. Opposing teams coach is arguing and stating that all force plays are off and the runner has to be touched. Umpires get together and call the runner on 2nd safe. What is the correct ruling on this? My understanding is that its all treated as normal if the ball is caught, and the force out is removed when advancing bases not going back to the base you occupied when the ball was hit.

[tedryan]

Why are bunted balls excluded? About half of bunted balls are popped up and put runners in a situation that the INFR tries to avoid. There was an example of this a few years ago, (Mariners vs Blue Jays) that turned into a triple play.