Baseball · MLB / Rule 05
Fair balls, foul balls and catches
MLB · 2025In short
Where the ball is judged and what makes a legal catch.
Fair or foul
Before passing first or third base, a grounded ball is judged by where it settles or is touched; passing over a base in fair territory makes it fair. Beyond those bases, first contact with the ground matters. A ball touching a fielder is judged by the ball’s position, not where the fielder stands. A ball on the foul line is fair.
A completed catch
A catch requires secure possession of a ball in flight in the hand or glove and control long enough to show voluntary release. Using a cap or uniform does not qualify. A bobbled ball can still be caught before touching the ground. A legally caught fair or foul fly retires the batter; runners must retouch before advancing after the first fielder’s touch.
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 ↗
Sources & approach ↗