Expert: Andrew Senger - 5/29/2009

Question
Batter hits a ground ball in the infield that starts in fair territory; the infielder while in fair territory reaches over the base line to catch the ground ball on a hop as it starts to go into foul territory.  The infielder catches the ball before the base and before the ball ever touches the ground in foul territory while he remains in fair territory.  My question is this a fair or foul ball; remember the ball has not passed the base yet nor has it ever touched foul territory it has only touched fair territory as it begins to go near foul territory.

Answer
Ken,

When calling a fair or foul ball, the location of the player or where the ball last bounce has no bearing on the call.

According to the rules used by MLB, these are the times a ball should be called fair:

a) settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base,
b) is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base,
c) touches first, second or third base,
d) first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base,
e) while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player,
f) while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight.

As you can see in section e, the ball is fair when it is on or over fair territory when it touches a player (or umpire). Notice nothing in the rule pertaining to the touching of a player states the last bounce has to be in fair territory.

Also, the FAIR BALL rule says the following: "A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time he touches the ball."

Therefore, in your situation, if the ball was over foul territory when the player caught it, the ball would be foul.