Ask the Umpire - Baseball Rules 2024

Baseball has a lot of rules.  Let's learn together!
Check out this page throughout the year for rules talk and answers to common rules questions.

Week #4
Question of the Week
"Can a catcher use a softball catcher's glove?"
"Can a right fielder use a first baseman's glove?"
ANSWER: Yes to both questions. A catcher is the only position player that can use a glove of any size - no restrictions. All other position players must use a glove that has dimensions adhering to the NFHS rules regarding height, palm width and web width. The shape or design of the glove is not applicable. (The only exception is the color of a pitcher's glove, which is restricted.)

Rule of the Week
Rules notes on the Set Position



Week #3
Question of the Week
"It seems like our umpires are allowing way too many warm-up pitches between innings. Is there a rule about this?"
ANSWER: Yes, this is addressed in the rules book. A starting pitcher gets up to 8 warm-up pitches, completed in one minute (timed from the first throw). A returning pitcher gets up to 5 warm-up pitches, completed in not more than 1 minute (timed from the third out of the previous half inning.)
Rule Reference: 6-2-2

Rule of the Week
When does a dead ball become live again?



Week #1
Question of the Week
"I am a 12U coach. Can a starting pitcher re-enter a game as pitcher?"
ANSWER: Yes. It's important to note the difference between MBL league games and MBT Qualifier/State tournament rules on this topic. The tournament rule allows only a starting pitcher to re-enter as pitcher. The MBL league rules do not modify from the NFHS high school rules. Here's the NFHS rule:

3-1-2
" ... a player may be removed as pitcher and returned as pitcher only once per inning, provided the return as pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution or charged conference rule."

Rule of the Week:
Foul Ball vs Foul Tip



Week #2
Question of the Week
"Do we play Infield Fly rule in our 9U games?"
ANSWER: Yes. All MBL league games and MBT Qualifier/State tournament games use the Infield Fly rule.

2-19
"An infield fly is a fair fly (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, (rule does not preclude outfielders from being allowed to make the catch) and provided the hit is made before two are out and at a time when first and second bases or all bases are occupied."

Some notes on this rule:
- Ball is not dead
- Runners only need to tag up if the ball is caught
- There is a lot of judgement in this call, particularly in determining what "ordinary effort" is at each age level
* Yes, MBL plays this rule at all travel levels.