Batted ball

[1]: 149 In general, batted balls are judged by where they land (first contact the ground) or are first touched by a player.

[2] Dickey Pearce, a well-known and respected player of the era, is credited with inventing the tactic.

[2] Fielders can attempt to make an out by catching any ball hit in the air, fair or foul, as long as it is still in play.

[1]: 22 Since 1931, whether such a batted ball is fair or foul is judged on its position when it leaves the field (that is, where it is as it passes over the outfield fence or wall).

[8] Such a batted ball may, under specific circumstances, be deemed an "infield fly" by an umpire, which has special consideration as outlined below.

"[1]: 149 The term is not used for fly balls, pop-ups, or line drives that are uncaught and happen to contact the ground.

[citation needed] MLB.com provides statistics for hitters, using the above four categories, as part of a "Batted Ball Profile".

[1]: 149 This rule is in place to prevent infielders from intentionally not catching the ball and being able to record multiple outs via a force play.

[1]: 41 This rule originated as early as 1894 in response to batters intentionally bunting pitches foul in order to tire the pitcher, also impacting pace of play.

In August 1982, Jim Rice of the Boston Red Sox left the dugout to carry a young boy that had been hit by a foul line drive into the team's clubhouse for medical treatment; the boy later underwent emergency surgery at a local hospital.

[24] In July 2007, first base coach Mike Coolbaugh was killed when a foul line drive hit him in the head during a minor-league game.

[27] In May 2019, a young fan at a Houston Astros game required hospitalization after being hit with a foul line drive.

[28] In a June 2021 minor-league game, pitcher Tyler Zombro was hit in the head by a 104 mph (167 km/h) line drive, fracturing his skull and causing him to have a seizure.