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Ground Ball, Out at First

When no one is on base, and the batter hits a ground ball, the defense has two main ways of getting the out: they can get the force out at first, or they can tag the runner¹ before said runner reaches first base. Either way, a successful play for the defense means that the runner is now out.

One other thing to look out for in this situation is a little more complicated, but it still results in an out— offensive interference. When the batter becomes a runner, they are given a lane (the runner’s lane) in foul territory down the first base line, and they are supposed to stay within this lane as they run to first. Runner’s don’t always do that— in part because, for right-handed batters especially, the lane and the shortest path between home plate and first are not exactly the same. Normally this isn’t a problem. But— occasionally things line up just right where the catcher or pitcher has fielded the ball, and they throw down to first. If the runner is in fair territory, their body can sometimes intercept the flight of the ball. Or, put slightly more clearly, sometimes the runner gets hit with the throw. If the runner is not in the runner’s lane when this happens, the umpire can call interference, which means that the runner is out.