Anderson Tags Runner with Glove’s Laces

The Twins and White Sox played at Target Field on April 12. In the bottom of the third, the Twins had Byron Buxton on first with no outs when he attempted to steal second base. White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson made the apparent tag on Buxton, who was called out by umpire Nick Lentz.

The Twins challenged the call and it was overturned giving Buxton 27 straight steals without being caught. The stolen base sparked a two-run rally in a game the Twins would win, 4-0.

The replay clearly showed that the laces on Anderson’s glove made contact with Buxton but that does not constitute a legal tag. To make a legal tag, the fielder must tag the runner with glove and ball or ball in hand. The laces do not factor in the tag.

The tag rule reads in part…”A tag is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball (not included the laces alone), while holding the ball securely or firmly in his hand or glove.”

Definition of Terms

A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body
while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching
a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball (not
including hanging laces alone), while holding the ball securely and
firmly in his hand or glove.

You can view this play by going to the link below.

https://www.mlb.com/video/buxton-steals-second/c-1932014683?tid=6479266