Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Sports

MLB clarifies home plate collision rule, says runner should be out if clearly beaten by throw

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • 7f8c991a-
    Image 1 of 2

    FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2014, file photo, Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers, right, reaches to tag San Francisco Giants' Gregor Blanco, who was originally ruled out at home but then ruled safe after review, during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco. Major League Baseball has sent a memo to teams clarifying this year's experimental rule intended to limit collisions at home plate, saying runners should not be called safe if the ball clearly beats them to the plate. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (The Associated Press)

  • 1ebdb07e-
    Image 2 of 2

    FILE - In this July 31, 2014, file photo, Cincinnati Reds' Zack Cozart (2) protests to home plate umpire Mike Winters, right, as he scores the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly by Todd Frazier against the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Miami. Cozart was originally called out by Winters. After a 6-minute, 10-second review, the call was overturned, and Ryan Ludwick followed with a two-run single that sent the Reds onto a 3-1 win. Major League Baseball has sent a memo to teams clarifying this year's experimental rule intended to limit collisions at home plate, saying runners should not be called safe if the ball clearly beats them to the plate. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File) (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK – Major League Baseball has sent a memo to teams clarifying this year's experimental rule intended to limit collisions at home plate, saying runners should not be called safe if the ball clearly beats them.

The rule, announced in February, says a catcher can't block the plate if he doesn't have the ball. There have been several disputed calls, including a pair of decisions in the last five weeks that led to runners being called safe after video review.

The guidelines sent to teams Tuesday say the catcher's positioning shouldn't change the call when the throw clearly is ahead of the runner. They also say if the catcher is entirely in fair territory, he should not be considered to have blocked the plate. Photo examples were included.