MLB baseball rule

[Guest Gael Baker]

If a batter hits a ball over the fence for a homerun but injured himself and cannot round the bases to touch home plate, is it still a homerun?

[Senor Azul]

Yes, it's still a home run and here's the rule--

2019 OBR rule 5.12(b)(3) When an accident incapacitates a player or an umpire;

(A) If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent him from proceeding to a base to which he is entitled, as on a home run hit out of the playing field, or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner shall be permitted to complete the play.

Here’s a real example—

On Sept. 14, 2005, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 at the Skydome. The difference in the game came courtesy of second baseman Tony Graffanino, who launched a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning off of Blue Jays starter Josh Towers.

The thing is that Graffanino could not complete his home run trot because the runner on first base at the time suffered an injury that didn’t allow him to finish running the bases. Who was that runner? Gabe Kapler.

While running around second base, Kapler stumbled and ruptured his left Achilles tendon. Kapler was unable to continue running, which halted Graffanino at first base until Red Sox manager Terry Francona had to substitute a pinch-runner--who turned out to be Alejandro Machado--to finish running the bases for Kapler, allowing Graffanino to finish running the bases as well.

[beerguy55]

Though @Senor Azuldoes provide a correct set of information to indicate that that the run would eventually count, it does not actually answer the OP's question of whether or not it's a "homerun".

To answer that question you need to look in the scoring rules, under 9.06, to see if it technically qualifies as a home run, for scorekeeping purposes.

a) Subject to the provisions of Rule 9.06(b) and 9.06(c) ...it is a one-base hit if the batter stops at first base; it is a two-base hit if the batter stops at second base; it a three-base hit if the batter stops at third base; and it is a home run if the batter touches all bases and scores.

That, on its own, may make one question whether the homerun is credited, as the batter did not touch all bases and score...but this other provision should clear it up.

e) When a batter-runner is awarded two bases, three bases or a home run under the provisions of Rules 5.06(b)(4) or 6.01(h) (Rules 7.05 or 7.06(a)), the official scorer shall credit the batter-runner with a two-base hit, a three-base hit or a home run, as the case may be.

 

However, though the batter will be credited with a HR and any RBI's, he will not be credited with a run scored - that will go to the substitute runner.

[Guest Bobby Morell]

What if the team doesn’t have any players available to use as substitutes.For instance;they’re in the 18th inning and all the legal players have been used already,including pitchers.

[beerguy55]

41 minutes ago, Guest Bobby Morell said:

What if the team doesn’t have any players available to use as substitutes.For instance;they’re in the 18th inning and all the legal players have been used already,including pitchers.

In most non-pro settings there are provisions to re-enter a player for injuries.

In MLB...he'd have to crawl his ass around the bases, without help from his teammates....otherwise he'd be eventually called out for abandonment/desertion (a very generous umpire could conceivably rule he missed all the bases and require defense to appeal - though I'm assuming abandonment is still in play on a dead ball base award)...and even then, it wouldn't matter unless it resulted in, or led to the winning run in the bottom of said inning...in any other scenario if his team has to take the defense with only 8 players they forfeit.

There was a case a few years ago in NCAA fastpitch where the girl hit a homerun in her last game, and the other team's players carried her around the bases in a tremendous show of sportsmanship.

 

 

[Rich Ives]

39 minutes ago, beerguy55 said:

 

In MLB...he'd have to crawl his ass around the bases, without help from his teammates...

 

 

There's no prohibition of other runners assisting.

 

And also the NCAA SB is the same - a sub could have been put in.

[Senor Azul]

High school baseball handles this situation differently from college and pro ball. Under high school rules (FED or NFHS) a so-called emergency substitute would be allowed to replace the injured player. It is based on FED rule 4-4-1f Note 1 and there is a case book play to illustrate:

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 4.4.1 SITUATION B:  B1 is injured (a) before reaching first on ball four, (b) sliding safely into second base or (c) while running to third base. Team A has no eligible substitutes available. RULING:  Team A can continue playing with eight players. The most recent batter not on base may serve as a courtesy runner for the injured B1 in (a) and (b) but not in (c) if he is tagged, provided he is not awarded a base. An out will be called out whenever B1’s turn is reached in the batting order. Depending on the circumstances, time is normally not called when a player is injured.

[beerguy55]

59 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

There's no prohibition of other runners assisting.

Perhaps, but I believe it would be only runners allowed - not anyone from the bench (??)....and in fact, practically speaking...runner, singular, as there would be no following runner to help...and if two preceding runners helped, one would likely end up out for passing another runner.

 

1 hour ago, Rich Ives said:

And also the NCAA SB is the same - a sub could have been put in.

True - but in that scenario the player wanted to complete her home run - it was her last game of college ball, and her first home run in her four seasons, if I recall the details correctly.