Baseball · MLB / Rule 05

Appeals and batting out of turn

MLB · 2025

Last checked: 14 October 2026
Source: MLB Official Baseball Rules 2025 · Source pages: 61–65, 97–101

In short

Missed bases, leaving early and the deadline for a batting-order appeal.

On this page

Base-running appeals

The defense may appeal a missed base or failure to retouch after a caught fly. Appeals must be properly made before the next pitch or intervening play or attempted play; inning-ending situations have further timing requirements. These are not always automatic umpire calls. A successful appeal can change which runs count, including a qualifying appeal after the apparent final out.

Wrong batter

While the wrong batter is still batting, the proper batter may replace him and inherit the count. After the turn ends, a timely defensive appeal can retire the proper batter and cancel advances caused by the improper batter’s action. Once the next pitch to either team or an intervening play occurs, the improper turn becomes legal and determines who bats next.

Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Based on the supplied MLB Official Baseball Rules 2025. Separate operational regulations and later amendments are not inferred. References use physical PDF pages. Explanations are condensed; the supplied edition and its stated competition conditions determine scope.
Sources & approach ↗