Baseball · WBSC / Rule 04
Teams, coaches and the starting line-up
WBSC · 2025–2026In short
Who takes the field and how the starting order becomes official.
Before play
Managers exchange line-up cards at the pre-game meeting, identify the designated hitter when used and agree local ground rules with the officials. The team must have nine eligible players. Apart from the catcher, defenders must be in fair territory when the ball is put into play; the pitcher and catcher also have position requirements.
Changing players
A substitute takes the replaced player’s batting-order position. Removed players may not return, and ordinary courtesy runners are not allowed. Report changes to the plate umpire; the rules also specify when an unreported substitute becomes legal. Multiple substitutions must identify their batting positions promptly.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Based on the supplied WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025–2026, including its event-specific appendices. References use physical PDF pages. Explanations are condensed; the supplied edition and its stated competition conditions determine scope.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗