When is a Fly ball a Sac Fly ?

by Mike
(New Hampshire)

Mike asked: If a runner is advanced from 2nd to 3rd on a fly ball, is that considered a sac fly and does the batter get charged with an official at bat?

Rick answered: Mike, thank you for your question.

Rule 9.08 Sacrifices

(d)Score a sacrifice fly when, before two are out, the batter hits a ball in flight handled by an outfielder or an infielder running in the outfield, in fair or foul territory that...

(1) is caught, and a runner scores after the catch, or

(2) is dropped, and a runner scores, if in the scorer's judgment the runner could have scored after the catch had the fly been caught.

A runner has to score for the at bat to become recorded as a sac fly. Advancing a runner from first to second, or from second to third with a caught fly ball is an official at bat.


Yours in baseball,

Rick