Relief Pitcher Return to Pitch

[Chynoweth]

In 3rd inning Right Fielder comes in to relieve the starting pitcher. Middle of 4th inning he is sent back to Right Field. Middle of 6th he is brought back in to pitch to the last two batters. Under FED rules is this legal for a relief pitcher, after being removed as pitcher to come back and pitch again? From my understanding the starting pitcher can come back later in the game to pitch, but unclear about a relief pitcher.

[JaxRolo]

Not legal

[Rich Ives]

Not legal

You sure? I can find the rule that says he can only return as a pitcher once per inning but none that says he cannot return.

[Jocko]

I never liked the rule allowing F1 to reenter as F1. Stupid rule.

[grayhawk]

It is, in fact, legal. Where it can be an issue is where pitchers are limited to a certain number of appearances over a given timeframe. For instance, in California (CIF-Southern Section), pitchers are limited to 3 appearances per calendar week. If a pitcher is removed from the mound and then comes back in later in the game, that is two appearances. If he had aleady pitched twice that week, it would not be legal for him to go back on the mound later in that game.

Of course, this is not something that an umpire tracks. It would have to be brought up by the opposing coach.

[mstaylor]

Perfectly legal.

[cyclonehokiece]

Legal in Fed. In other youth leagues check rules, local rules may ban this.

[noumpere]

Not legal

Not correct.

[JaxRolo]

Not legal

I stand corrected.

I guess I have never seen it happen!

[JaxRolo]

And I thought I knew my FED rules.

[UMP45]

In FED he can do it once an inning.

[mstaylor]

Once an inning with some restrictions, visits, number of warm up pitches, and a couple others.

[Chynoweth]

So if it is legal can you give the reference in the rule book. I can't seem to find it. Thanks for your help!

[Rich Ives]

So if it is legal can you give the reference in the rule book. I can't seem to find it. Thanks for your help!

It's legal because there's no rule that says it isn't.

3-1-2 A player may be removed as pitcher and returned as pitcher only once per inning,

provided the return as pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution or

charged conference rule.

[mstaylor]

In other words it doesn't differentiate between a starter and a relief pitcher.