Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:20 +0000

This Infield Fly Rule Changed Every Game Forever: How a Simple Rule Revolutionized Baseball Strategy In the world of baseball, few rules carry as much strategic weight—and as much legend—as the infield fly rule (IFR). Despite its unassuming name, this single rule—activated when a batter hits a fair ball to short stop or second base with fewer than two outs—has dramatically changed how every infield game unfolds, reshaping strategy, pitching, defense, and even fans’ perceptions of the game. ### What Exactly Is the Infield Fly Rule? At its core, the infield fly rule prevents a fielder from tagging out a batter with a fair ground ball if doing so would allow an easy double play. Officially outlined in MLB Rule 5.09(b)(7), the situation triggers when:
- There are fewer than two outs,
- At least one fielder is within field oférieur of the ball, and
- A fair ball is hit that can be caught or thrown to eliminate a baserunner before contact.