Types of batted balls in baseball
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, a batted ball is any ball that, after a pitch
, is contacted by the batter's bat. One or more of several terms are used to describe a batted ball, depending on how it comes off the bat
and where in the field
it lands.
There are generally three descriptive categories for balls hit in the air:
A pop fly in or near the infield is almost always easily caught because infielders (also at times the pitcher or catcher) can easily approach the fly ball before it falls. A special rule, the infield fly rule
, applies to any fair fly ball that looks like an easy catch for an infielder when a baserunners are on first and second base and a fielder who could drop a fly ball could easily get a force play on a runner at third base or home plate. The umpire calls "Infield fly if fair", and the batter is out automatically and baserunners are not obligated to vacate their bases to avoid a force-out if the batted ball remains fair. The infield fly rule does not apply to a bunted ball of any kind or a foul fly of any kind.
A ground ball or grounder is a batted ball that rolls or bounces on the ground. A line drive in the infield may become a hard grounder to an outfielder; these are usually called line drives regardless.
Bunts are generally not considered to be ground balls; they are a distinct type of batted ball, where the batter, in effect, tries to 'block' the ball with the bat held steady, rather than taking a full swing.
Any of the above types of balls might be fair ball
s or foul ball
s. Umpires will also signal first signal fair or foul on fly outs near the foul line, but the result of a foul fly out (or foul out) is no different from a fair fly out; it is not a foul ball.
A foul tip
, a very different type of batted ball, is a ball tipped off the bat which goes straight back almost as if the bat missed it and is caught by the catcher. It's sometimes hard to tell if a batter has foul-tipped a ball unless you are close enough to hear the contact. A foul tip is always a strike, even if there are two strikes on the batter. If the catcher does not catch the batted ball coming straight back, it is an ordinary foul ball.
Many other terms are used within the game and by writers, reporters, and play-by-play announcers to describe batted balls. For example, the List of baseball jargon mentions base knock, bleeder, blooper, comebacker, daisy cutter, dying quail, flare, frozen rope, ground ball with eyes, nubber, salami, scratch hit, squibber, and other terms.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, a batted ball is any ball that, after a pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
, is contacted by the batter's bat. One or more of several terms are used to describe a batted ball, depending on how it comes off the bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
and where in the field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
it lands.
There are generally three descriptive categories for balls hit in the air:
- A fly ball or simply fly is a ball that is hit in the air, usually very high. Fielders attempt to catch fly balls on their descent.
- A pop fly or pop-up is a specific type of fly ball that goes very high while not traveling very far laterally. From the perspective of the fielder, pop-ups seem to come straight down. A fly ball is usually caught in flightIn flightIn baseball, the rules state that a batted ball is considered in flight when it has not yet touched any object other than a fielder or his equipment....
and thus results in an outOut (baseball)In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
, called a fly out or a pop out as the case may be.
A pop fly in or near the infield is almost always easily caught because infielders (also at times the pitcher or catcher) can easily approach the fly ball before it falls. A special rule, the infield fly rule
Infield Fly Rule
The infield fly rule is a baseball rule that is intended to prevent infielders from intentionally dropping pop-ups in order to turn double plays . Without this rule, a defense could easily turn a pop-up into a double play when there are runners at first and second base...
, applies to any fair fly ball that looks like an easy catch for an infielder when a baserunners are on first and second base and a fielder who could drop a fly ball could easily get a force play on a runner at third base or home plate. The umpire calls "Infield fly if fair", and the batter is out automatically and baserunners are not obligated to vacate their bases to avoid a force-out if the batted ball remains fair. The infield fly rule does not apply to a bunted ball of any kind or a foul fly of any kind.
- A line driveLine driveIn baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
or a liner. This is a sharply hit, low-flying batted ball. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball is subjective; liners tend to have little noticeable arc. Liners also tend to be the hardest balls to catch because of their speed and rapid descent; however, very fast liners hit directly to an infielder are often caught by instinct without the need for judgment, making the catch easy though perhaps unexpected. Line drives can be especially dangerous to baseball players and spectators. As recently as July 22, 2007, Tulsa DrillersTulsa DrillersThe Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
first base coach Mike CoolbaughMike CoolbaughMichael Robert Coolbaugh was an American baseball player and coach. Born in Binghamton, New York, he was the brother of former major leaguer Scott Coolbaugh.-Playing career:...
was killed in a fatal line drive accident at a minor league stadium in Little Rock.
A ground ball or grounder is a batted ball that rolls or bounces on the ground. A line drive in the infield may become a hard grounder to an outfielder; these are usually called line drives regardless.
Bunts are generally not considered to be ground balls; they are a distinct type of batted ball, where the batter, in effect, tries to 'block' the ball with the bat held steady, rather than taking a full swing.
Any of the above types of balls might be fair ball
Fair ball
In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that entitles the batter to attempt to reach first base. In order for a batted ball to be fair, it must be hit in such a way that it:...
s or foul ball
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
s. Umpires will also signal first signal fair or foul on fly outs near the foul line, but the result of a foul fly out (or foul out) is no different from a fair fly out; it is not a foul ball.
A foul tip
Foul tip
In baseball, a foul tip is defined as "a batted ball that goes sharp directly from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play."...
, a very different type of batted ball, is a ball tipped off the bat which goes straight back almost as if the bat missed it and is caught by the catcher. It's sometimes hard to tell if a batter has foul-tipped a ball unless you are close enough to hear the contact. A foul tip is always a strike, even if there are two strikes on the batter. If the catcher does not catch the batted ball coming straight back, it is an ordinary foul ball.
Many other terms are used within the game and by writers, reporters, and play-by-play announcers to describe batted balls. For example, the List of baseball jargon mentions base knock, bleeder, blooper, comebacker, daisy cutter, dying quail, flare, frozen rope, ground ball with eyes, nubber, salami, scratch hit, squibber, and other terms.