When Runner Interference Changes to Obstruction
The Nationals and Orioles played at Camden Yards on Aug. 14, 2024. In the bottom of the seventh, Ryan O’Hearn was batting facing Jacob Barnes with Jackson Holliday on first and Coby Mayo on second and one out. O’Hearn hit a shot that deflected off the thigh of Barnes. The ball rolled to the foul side of the first base line. Barnes pursued the ball and almost collided with O’Hearn who was running to first base. In your opinion, did O’Hearn interfere with Barnes who was attempting to retrieve the ball?
A better question might be, did Barnes obstruct O’Hearn? One of the fundamental rules of baseball is that a runner must avoid a fielder who is attempting to make a play. The rule book gives the fielder strong protection here. If a batted ball deflects off a fielder and the ball is within immediate reach of the fielder, he is still protected, and it is the responsibility of the runner to avoid the fielder. However, when a batted ball deflects off a fielder and the fielder has to chase the ball, the onus is now on the fielder to avoid the runner. In the above play, I think there s a better argument for obstruction than there is for batter-runner interference because Barnes had to chase the ball. In my opinion, Type 2 obstruction could have been called here because Barnes hindered the progress of O’Hearn while he was chasing the ball and at the moment of obstruction there was no play being directly made on O’Hearn. If Type 2 was called, the ball should be kept alive and the runner should be awarded the base he would have made had there been no obstruction. If the runner attempts to advance beyond his obstructed base, he does so at his own risk. In the above play, O’Hearn would not have advanced further than first base, therefore that is the base he should be awarded, if obstruction was called. But there was no call on the play.
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.
This would be Type 1 obstruction because, although a play was not being made on him, the batter-runner was obstructed before reaching first base. Rule 6.01(h)(1) If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead…