What is rundown play?

baseball A rundown play of runner is an out between the bases. Also called a "run-down play." runner It often occurs when the base running runs out of the base, and is often the result of a pitcher fumble, a infield hit miss, or a runner attempt to advance the base but the timing is not quite right.

The fielder who has the ball can make an out by touching runner, but if the fielder who does not have the ball is in position to block base running, it will be judged base running interference. In addition, the attacking team can advance other runner bases while the rundown play is occurring. For example, you may have seen a situation where third base runner is attempting to return a baserunner alive while first base runner is sandwiched between first and second base.

rundown Although the play results in an out in many cases, runner may slip through defense and advance the base. This time, we will show you a video of runner "sticking it out" on a rundown play.

He slipped through the touch line and returned to home plate

First, rundown, a play slipped through the play: on July 29, 2023, in the second inning of a game between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham and Orix, with one out and three on, a player on third base runner, Orix Kenya Wakatsuki The player at third base made a spectacular "evasive maneuver".

hitter When the third baseman gave up a wild pitch, Wakatsuki ran toward home base. However, short stop returned the ball quickly, and Wakatsuki turned on his heel and was caught between the three runners. Immediately after, he was declared out, but after request verification, the decision was overturned and he was allowed to return alive to home base because the touch from fielder had not been received and Wakatsuki's run was not off the track.

A clever play that led to throw error by the opposing defense

Next, there was a case where the opponent's defense mistake was made in the rundown play and survived. On September 3, 2025, Tohoku Rakuten vs. Saitama Seibu, in the top of the 6th inning, with 1 out, 2nd and 3rd base.

hitter 's Manaya Nishikawa hit two grounders, and Yuto Koga player runner third base jumped out and was caught between the three. During the two round trips, Shinya Hasegawa player of the runner on second base reached third base. Koga, who returned to third base, seemed to be out, but Hasegawa ran back to second base and was sandwiched between second and third base. In the meantime, when Koga headed to home plate, the opponent's throw to home base was deflected and he survived. Hasegawa also advanced to third base.

We introduced a rare case of rundown play. We are already looking forward to seeing what kind of plays we will see next season.

Written by Pacific League Insight Editorial Department