Runner standing on base hit with batted ball

[coach477]

had a play the other day , r2 got hit with fly ball while standing on the base, umps ruled safe. SS and CF were trying to make the play, i talked to base ump after the end of inning, he said he had one of the fielders making an attempt. that's why he ruled safe. I thought you had to make a play on the ball and miss not an attempt?

[Velho]

Details matter here so some questions:

- Was this an infield fly (less than two outs, runners on first and second or first second and third)? If so, the runner is not out unless, as @noumpere says, they intentionally interfere. 

- If not an infield fly, was the runner the first person the ball made contact with? If so, that's interference. R2 is out and R1 is awarded first base. (possible to get another out if the interference were judged intentional to break up a double play).

[Velho]

2 minutes ago, noumpere said:

A runner does not have to vacate a base on a fly ball.. He just can't intentionally interfere.

For interfering with a fielder, yes. But if the ball directly hits the runner with fielders having a play on a non-INF, that's INT. The base isn't a safe haven.

[Jimurray]

23 minutes ago, Velho said:

For interfering with a fielder, yes. But if the ball directly hits the runner with fielders having a play on a non-INF, that's INT. The base isn't a safe haven.

Highly unlikely but the ump might have judged a through or by situation where the fielder was in front of the base and trying to catch the flyball which went by him and hit the runner. While they mention an F8 I doubt that you could judge that F8 still had a play on that though or by flyball. 

[Velho]

13 minutes ago, Jimurray said:

Highly unlikely but the ump might have judged a through or by situation where the fielder was in front of the base and trying to catch the flyball which went by him and hit the runner. While they mention an F8 I doubt that you could judge that F8 still had a play on that though or by flyball. 

Agreed. Possible but unlikely and a stretch imo (based on how I imagine the play could unfold). But not impossible to get that ruling.

 

[beerguy55]

Isn't the runner protected in LL Minors - ie. no leadoffs?

Also pretty sure that's the case in softball as well...60 foot bases, no leadoffs.

[Umpy]

18 minutes ago, beerguy55 said:

Isn't the runner protected in LL Minors - ie. no leadoffs?

Also pretty sure that's the case in softball as well...60 foot bases, no leadoffs.

From the 2024 Little League case book, it doesn't look like there are any exceptions in Little League:

 

RULE 7.08(f) SITUATION: With the infield playing back, a batted ball strikes a runner who is standing on second base.

RULING: The runner is out for interference, the ball is immediately dead, and the batter-runner is awarded first base, no other runners may advance unless forced. (NOTE: Bases are not a safe haven from being struck with a batted ball except in the case of an Infield Fly. If a runner is struck by an Infield Fly while standing on a base, they will not be declared out.)