When are baseball runners given bases without having to run for them?
I · Intermediate · Running the bases · 5 of 9In four main cases. A batter given four balls, hit by a pitch or interfered with by the catcher gets first base. A fair ball that bounces out of the field gives two bases. A throw that goes into the stands gives two bases. A fair ball over the fence in flight is a home run.
How it works
- Walk: first base after four balls, or on an intentional walk signalled by the manager.
- Hit by pitch: first base when a pitch the batter is not swinging at hits them. The ball is dead.
- Not if they lean in: a batter may not move to be hit on purpose, and a pitch in the strike zone is a strike.
- Catcher's interference: first base if the catcher hinders the swing.
- Forced runners: runners advance one base when the batter's award forces them.
- Home run: a fair ball over the fence in flight, at 250 feet or more from home plate.
- Two bases, bounced out: a fair ball that bounces into the stands or goes through or under the fence.
- Two bases, thrown out: a throw that goes into the stands or a dugout. The ball is dead.
- From where: on the first throw by an infielder, from where the runners were at the pitch. Otherwise from where they were when the throw was made.
- One base: a pitch, or a pick-off throw from the rubber, that goes out of play.
- Balk: every runner advances one base.
- Thrown glove or cap: three bases if a fielder touches a fair batted ball with a thrown glove or detached cap, and two for a thrown ball.
The glossary has the walk, the home run, the dead ball, the wild pitch, the balk and the batter-runner.
Tricky cases
A fair ball bounces over the outfield fence with a fast runner on first. Can the runner score?
No. The batter and the runners are entitled to two bases, so the runner stops at third.
A shortstop fields a ground ball and throws it into the stands. Where does the batter go?
To second base: two bases from where the runners were at the time of the pitch, since it was the first play by an infielder.
A batter sticks an elbow into a pitch outside the strike zone. First base?
No. A batter who moves to be hit on purpose is not awarded first base, and a strike is called.
A fly ball bounces off an outfielder's glove and over the fence in fair territory. What is it?
A home run, if it was deflected at 250 feet or more from home plate.
Why the rule exists
Each award puts right something that stopped normal play: a pitcher who could not find the zone, a ball that left the field, a fielder who cheated. The amounts are fixed so that umpires need not guess how far a runner might have gone, which is why a bounced ball is always two bases however fast the runner.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fair ball out in flight | Home run | WBSC Baseball Rule 10.2.5 |
| Fair ball bounces out | Two bases | WBSC Baseball Rule 10.2.6 |
| Thrown ball out of play | Two bases | WBSC Baseball Rule 10.4.7.7 |
| Pitch or pick-off throw out of play | One base | WBSC Baseball Rule 10.4.7.8 |
| Local ground rules | Set before the game for that field | WBSC Baseball Rule 5.4 |
From the rule book
World Baseball Softball Confederation, Official Rules of Baseball (2025-2026 edition), Rules 9.9, 10.2, 10.4 and 10.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026 (PDF).