Forced runner

[Guest Jason]

If a runner is on first and a batted ball goes to the first baseman who picks it up and touches first to get the batter out does the runner on first have to run or can he stay in first if the runner near reaches first?

[Gfoley4]

The runner on first base is forced to go to second, and he has no legal right to remain on first base. This can change, however, if the first base bag or batter/runner is tagged and the force is removed. If the runner on first is tagged (even if he's still on first base), THEN the bag is touched, it's a double play.