Runner Injured During Home Run Trot (MLB)

[spark2212]

Let's say that a batter hits a home run but gets injured while running the bases and can't complete his journey home. How do the officials handle that? Is the team allowed to substitute another runner? Is he out? Does he have to crawl his way around the bases before the trainer can see him?

[umpstu]

50 minutes ago, spark2212 said:

Let's say that a batter hits a home run but gets injured while running the bases and can't complete his journey home. How do the officials handle that? Is the team allowed to substitute another runner? Is he out? Does he have to crawl his way around the bases before the trainer can see him?

I believe they can substitute a runner for injured player.

[spark2212]

55 minutes ago, umpstu said:

I believe they can substitute a runner for injured player.

I hope so, because anything else seems cruel. 

[Lou B]

I think in OBR it's 5.12 (don't have my book with me). Put in a substitute runner.

[BigBlue4u]

Food for thought:  Remember, however, that if a runner is injured during play, the ball remains live until the play is over.  The exception being if the injured player is in jeopardy of further injury.

[spark2212]

2 hours ago, BigBlue4u said:

Food for thought:  Remember, however, that if a runner is injured during play, the ball remains live until the play is over.  The exception being if the injured player is in jeopardy of further injury.

Which is why I asked. If the ball is out of play the runner cannot be tagged out, but the play isn't over until the runners finish advancing. 

[spark2212]

Just now, spark2212 said:

Which is why I asked. If the ball is out of play the runner cannot be tagged out, but the play isn't over until the runners finish advancing. 

I guess you could argue that forcing an injured player to continue circling the bases puts them at risk of further injury. 

[umpstu]

6 hours ago, BigBlue4u said:

Food for thought:  Remember, however, that if a runner is injured during play, the ball remains live until the play is over.  The exception being if the injured player is in jeopardy of further injury.

A home run that has left the field is a dead ball.

[Jay R.]

@Lou B is correct. Relevant rule is 5.12(b)(3)(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."

[MadMax]

On 2/3/2023 at 11:45 AM, umpstu said:

I believe they can substitute a runner for injured player.

No "belief" necessary. They can substitute. Always have been able to. 

After reading everyone else's posts, there's something that has to be grasped – 
This is never abandonment, and there shall never be an Out called for this. The injured Runner does not have to complete the "running of the bases", in this instance. While the ball is Live? Yes. However, if the ball is Dead – and over the fence Home Runs, ground-rule Doubles, ball thrown / rolling out of play, Hit-by-Pitch, etc. are all Dead-ball-events – then a substitute can complete the running "responsibilities". 

Example (and it's one we've seen many times): Batter HBP in the head. Medical staff rushes to field, and checks on player. It is determined that he will be directly carted off field. 

Does he have to go touch 1B before he leaves (the game)? 🤨 

No, that's just asinine and inhumanely unrealistic to expect and enforce that. So, in that same vein, if a Batter hits a ball that goes Out of Play (OOP), whether that be a Home Run or a ground-rule double, and he is injured (blown Achilles tendon, I've watched it happen), then a substitute will replace him and complete his base running responsibilities. You are NOT (unfairly) COACHING the substitute by informing them as to where, physically, they're being inserted into the game. For example, if a Batter (Brandon) hits a long fly ball that bounces in Fair territory, but goes up and over the fence for a ground rule double, but Brandon blew out his Achilles tendon leaving the box, we'd (of course) call Time (on the ball leaving the playing field), and assess what's going on with Brandon. As he's being helped off the field, the offensive team is notifying you of a substitute, Sam. We would then tell Sam the Substitute that he is to resume and complete Brandon's running of the bases "from the box". Note, we are NOT directing or coaching him to "touch 1B"; instead, we are informing him as to where Brandon "left off" in his course when he was injured. 

Informing ≠ coaching.

[BigBlue4u]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

No, that's just asinine and inhumanely unrealistic to expect and enforce that.

Well put. I think there is often a tendency to "overthink" some situations.  A good starting point is to ask yourself, "What is the spirit and intent of the rule as it applies to a given situation."

[beerguy55]

However, he will not be credited with a run scored...He does get the RBI(s).

Oddly, if you strictly follow the scorekeeper definition, he can't get the HR because he didn't touch home...but I'd like to know what you give the batter if he gets hurt before reaching first base...I suspect it's an oversight, and he'd still get the HR...but the run scored would go to the substitute.

 

9.06 Determining Value of Base Hits

(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.

5.05(a)(5)   A fair ball passes over a fence or into the stands... Such hit entitles the batter to a home run when he shall have touched all bases legally

[Ruben]

This has actually happened in the MLB. Gabe Kapler got injured rounding second base on a home run.  It wasn't his - he had started at first - but really the same type of thing.  They had a pinch hitter finish running for him - before the batter who hit the home run passed him on the bases.

Here's an article on it.

And video!