The Rangers and Astros played at Minute Maid on July 14, 2024. In the top of the first inning, the Rangers had Marcus Semien on first and no outs when Corey Seager, facing Ronel Blanco, bounced to Jon Singleton. The Astros first baseman threw to shortstop Jeremy Peña to force Semien. But Peña’s throw to first was wild and got lodged in the padding on the railing of the dugout.

Seager was sent to second base.

Ruleball Comments

1. When a ball is judged to be lodged, it is a dead ball. The base award is determined whether it’s a batted ball, a thrown ball, or a pitched ball. It is more common for a batted ball to become lodged vs. a thrown ball or a pitched ball. 
2. Regarding a batted ball that gets lodged, runners are awarded two bases from their position on the bases at the time the pitch was delivered per rule 5.06 (b) (4) (f). The Dodgers and Mets played at Dodger Stadium on April 17, 2023. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Dodgers had Freddie Freeman on first base and one out when James Outman, facing Brooks Raley, hit a deep drive to right field that disappeared in the lower part of the wall just below the scoreboard.  The ball was judged to be a lodged ball and both runners were awarded two bases from the base they occupied when the pitch was delivered. Freeman went to third and Outman was placed on second base. The position of the runners on the bases at the moment the ball was declared lodged is irrelevant.
3. The broadcasters did not handle the play very well.
4. Rule 5.06 (b) (4) (g) deals with thrown balls that are lodged and also second plays in the infield. The position of the batter-runner at the time the wild throw left the thrower’s hand is the key when deciding the award of bases. In the Seager play, his base award was two bases because he had not yet reached first base at the time Peña released the ball. If Seager had reached first base the moment the ball was released by Peña, he would be awarded third base because that would be the second play in the infield. The first play was Singleton’s throw to second.
5. It would be a rarity, but it’s possible, that if the batter-runner and all other runners advanced one base before a first play throw ended in DBT, lodged or otherwise, all runners would get two bases from their position on the bases at the time the throw was released.
6. If a lodged ball play is challenged, the Replay Official’s decision is final and supersedes any action on the field.
7. Baseballs that disappear behind a tarp or wall (even momentarily) are to be treated as lodged balls. 
8. It’s a convoluted rule. A ball is considered lodged, if in the judgment of the umpire the natural trajectory of the flight of the ball is interrupted long enough to affect further play.
9. If a ball stops rolling it’s possible it stopped because it was momentarily lodged for some reason and it affected further play. I think umpires tend to protect the offensive team in these situations.
10. If a rolling ball stops abruptly when it goes under a wall, it is not necessarily a lodged ball, but it may be.  The bottom of the wall determination will be made if the ball sticks. The pads are designed to be high enough for the ball to go under without sticking. That being said, those pads slip, and umpires do get lodged balls there. But just because the ball stays under the wall, does not necessarily mean the ball is lodged.  
11. How easily a ball can be retrieved by the fielder does not factor in the rule.
12. Outfielders are instructed to put their arms in the air when they think the ball is lodged but that does not officially kill the play. Only the umpire can kill the play when he calls “Time.” After the outfielder raises his arms, unless the fielder is totally sure the ball is lodged, he should continue to play the ball in case the umpires on the field or the Replay Official do not rule a lodged ball. This is true in situations as to whether or not a ball is lodged. Runners should continue to run hard in case the umpires or Replay Official determines the ball is not lodged.
13. If a pitched ball lodges in the umpire’s or catcher’s mask or paraphernalia and remains out of play on the third strike or fourth ball, the batter and all runners are entitled to advance one base. If it is not the third strike or fourth ball, the runners on base may advance one base per rule 5.06 (c) (7). The D’backs hosted the Phillies in Game Four of the 2023 NLCS when the following oddity occurred. In the top of the sixth the Phillies had Kyle Schwarber on first and no outs with Bryce Harper at bat when D’backs pitcher Andrew Saalfrank bounced a pitch in the dirt that got caught under Gabriel Moreno’s chest protector. Plate umpire Mike Muchlinski called “Time” and sent Schwarber to second base. The lesson here is for catchers to wear their chest protector tight enough so a ball cannot squirrel into it.
14. If a batted or thrown ball inadvertently goes inside a player’s or coach’s uniform, the umpires should call “Time” and using common sense place all runners in such a manner, that in the umpires’ judgment, will nullify the action of the ball going out of play. Most likely there would be a one base award.
15. If a batted or thrown ball lodges in a fielder’s glove, the ball remains in play.  The fielder can throw ball in glove to another fielder and if caught, it would be a legal catch.

Rich Marazzi

Rules consultant/analyst:  Angels, D’backs, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox, Rangers, Royals, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Yankees, YES, and NBC Sports Chicago.