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An Error on an Infield Grounder

When a batter hits a ground ball with no one on base, there are generally three potential failure points that could lead to an error:

• the defender who tries to field the ball
• the throw from that fielder to first base
• that throw getting caught

If any of these elements of the play are not made, the scorekeeper could charge whomever screwed up with an error.

As with any error, the key is if the play in question would require “ordinary effort” by the fielder. Ball hit directly to an infielder, and they just fail to grab it? Usually an error. Ball gets hit to the very edge of an infielder’s range, and it ticks off of their glove? Not an error.

Most of the errors in this situation will just result in the runner being safe at first, though if the throw to first goes horribly awry and there aren’t any fielders around who can corral it, the runner can just keep running and try to take second¹. If the defense gets control of the ball again, they can always attempt to get through runner out, though at this point, the force play no longer applies, and they would have to get that out via the tag. If a throw really goes awry, it can land out of play, possibly in the dugout. Once this happens, the play is dead, and the batter is awarded two bases².

There’s one additional scenario that can result in an error on a ground ball: a position infraction. MLB rules state that the defensive team can have no more than two infielders on each side of second base: the third baseman and shortstop on one side, second baseman and first baseman on the other. The fielders can range anywhere within their side, but they must be within the dirt part of the infield, and they cannot cross second base until the ball is hit. If the umpires (or a replay review) spot a fielder out of position before the pitch, and that fielder is the first to touch the ball, the offensive team is given a choice— the batter either gets to take first base, or if the batter was able to get multiple bases out of the play, they can just take the result as it stands. If they take the first option, the offending fielder is charged with an error³.