Fly-ball priority

The rules that decide it

• The center fielder has priority over the other outfielders, and any outfielder over any infielder.
• The shortstop has priority over the other infielders, and the second baseman over the first baseman. Infielders take priority over the pitcher and catcher.
• Standing up beats diving: a ball an infielder catches standing up and an outfielder would have to dive for is the infielder's.
• Nobody slows down on his own. Only a call changes a path, and the player giving way says so out loud.
• Every base gets covered for a tag-up or a throw. When a fielder leaves his base to chase the ball, someone else takes it.

Every scene

• Pop-up behind third baseThe shortstop owns this ball; the third baseman and left fielder chase it until he calls them off, then back him up.
• Fly ball to shallow left-centerThe center fielder owns this ball; the left fielder and shortstop chase it until he calls them off, then back him up.
• Pop-up to shallow center, left sideThe center fielder owns this ball; the shortstop and second baseman chase it until he calls them off, then back him up.
• Pop-up to shallow center, right sideThe center fielder owns this ball; the shortstop and second baseman chase it until he calls them off, then back him up.
• Fly ball to shallow right-centerThe center fielder owns this ball; the right fielder and second baseman chase it until he calls them off, then back him up.
• Pop-up behind first baseThe second baseman owns this ball; the first baseman and right fielder chase it until he calls them off, then back him up.

Want a ball somewhere else? Tap anywhere on the field in the app and see who owns it.

More situations

By position