There is no penalty for unnecessarily sliding into a base so there is no downside for runners who decide to slide into a base without a close play. Whenever players are unsure if there will be a close play at a base, or they think there will be a close play at a base, they should slide. Either way, there can be numerous reasons why a baserunner is unsure if there will be a close play at the base they’re running towards. There will often be a clear indicator that a player needs to slide or not slide, but sometimes baserunners will be in a scenario where they are unsure if there is going to be a close play at a base.īaserunners could be unsure about sliding for a number of reasons maybe their base coach hasn’t yet indicated what they should do, maybe the baserunner wasn’t able to hear what their base coach said, or maybe the baserunner hears the fans cheering and thinks the defense is trying to tag them out. This first-base rule only applies to batters running towards first base, it does not apply to runners who were previously on first base and are heading back towards first base. Whenever there is a close play at first base, the baserunner has a better chance of beating the throw and being called safe by running through the base instead of by sliding. It’s always faster to run through a base than trying to stop directly on a base, so it’s recommended that all players run through first base on every play. Running to first base has its own set of rules, which is that players are allowed to run through the bag instead of needing to stop directly on the bag. By sliding, the baserunner ensures they will be stopping on the base.Īlthough sliding is beneficial on a close play, it is almost never recommended to slide into first base after hitting a ball. If the baserunner were to accidentally over-run a base, the defensive player could tag them for an out. In addition to making the infielder move their glove towards the ground, the baserunner also has an advantage with sliding because it allows the baserunner to make it to the base in the fastest time possible while also stopping the baserunner from over-running the base. This extra half-second can be the difference between the runner being safe or out. The easiest way for an infielder to tag a runner out is to receive the ball and tag the runner around the waist.īy sliding, baserunners force the infielder to catch the ball, then move their glove towards the ground in an effort to tag the baserunner before the baserunner reaches the base. When there is no force at a bag and the defense wants to throw out a baserunner, the defensive player will need to tag the runner. The baserunner will want to slide into base because it gives them the best chance at being safe. When a player knows the defense will be trying to throw them out at the next base, that player knows it’s time to slide. When running to first base after hitting a ball, players should always run through the base. The one exception to this rule is when a batter is running to first base. When the player sees that the play will be close, they can make the decision for themselves that a slide is appropriate.Īs a general rule, a runner should be sliding into a base whenever there is a close play. Sometimes when running the bases, baserunners are able to easily tell whether or not there will be a close play at a base. Once the baserunner gets the signal from their coach, they know they need to slide if they want to have a chance at being called safe. Some coaches may have different signals to let the baserunner know they need to slide, but a majority of coaches will simply yell “Down!” to signal to the runner that they need to slide. When a base coach thinks the play at a bag is going to be close, they will signal to the runner to slide. In these scenarios, it is the job of the base coach to let the baserunner know what is happening, which defensive player has the ball, and whether or not the runner needs to slide. While the runner is busy advancing to third base, they are unable to see the throw because the play is happening directly behind them. This information is extremely valuable to the runner because, a majority of the time, the runner is unable to see what is happening on the field.Ī great example would be a play where a baserunner is heading into third base, but the ball is being thrown in from right field. While the runner is moving around the bases, the base coaches are watching the play and relaying information to the baserunner.

Depending on where they are at on the bases, baserunners should be listening to either their first base coach or their third base coach.

One thing all baserunners should be paying attention to is their base coach.

Mlb rules slide runner