Plate Umpire Interference
Plate umpire interference was called in back-to-back games on June 24-25, 2024 at Petco Park where the Nationals and Padres played. Both times the Nationals lost stolen bases which were critical because the Nats lost the June 24th game 7-6 in 10-innings and the following night they were defeated 9-7.
Ruleball Comments
Plate umpire interference is a rare occurrence. To have it called on successive nights is extremely rare. In the June 24th game, Lane Thomas was batting in the top of the fifth with Jacob Young on second and CJ Abrams on first and no outs. The Nationals executed a double steal. Young was safe at third. But plate ump Adam Hamari called interference on himself because he impeded the throw to third base by Padres’ catcher Kyle Higashioka. Because of the interference the runners had to return to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch.
Below is the play. It’s difficult to see the contact between the catcher and the umpire but it did occur.
The following night the Nationals were batting in the top of the fifth with two outs. Thomas was again batting for the Nationals with Abrams on first base. Abrams stole second but had to return to first because plate ump Brian Walsh called interference on himself when Higashioka made contact with the umpire’s mask while in the act of making his throw.
The play is below. You will see the catcher make contact with the umpire’s mask
There are only two umpires that can be called for interference-the second base umpire when he is positioned on the infield side in front of second base in front of the infielders and is struck by a batted ball, and the plate umpire when he impedes a catcher’s throw to a base, or a return throw from the catcher to the pitcher.
When the field umpire interferes with the play, the ball is dead. The batter-runner is given first base and any runner on base advances one base, only if forced. And the batter is credited with a hit.
When the plate umpire interferes with the catcher’s throw to a base, if the direct throw retires the runner, (there’s no subsequent rundown or play), the interference is nullified. If the runner is not put out, all runners return to the base they occupied at the time the pitch was delivered.
The plate umpire must be aware of the proximity between him and catcher. Although I have never seen it called, the plate ump must be aware of the possibility of the catcher initiating the interference if he knows he has no chance to retire a runner who is attempting to steal a base.
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.