Expert: Tom Schott - 8/15/2011

Question
I saw one your answers to another post regarding what is considered a Fielder's Choice.

I'm wondering if the batter would be tagged with a Fielder's Choice in either of the following 2 plays.

1. Runner on 1st. Batter hits a scorching line drive to center field. The center fielder (playing shallow) charges the ball, cleanly fields it on one hop and guns out the runner at 2nd on a force play. The batter easily reaches 1st, however.

2. Same play as above, but the runner at 2nd beats the throw.

I'm fairly certain that you have to credit the batter with a hit in scenario #2. But what about scenario #1? There was NEVER any chance to put out the batter. It seems incredibly unfair to tag him with a FC.

Answer
Hello, David,

1.  This would be scored as a base hit for the batter with the runner thrown out on the advance. Essentially, this is the play as if the runner had been thrown out going to third.

2.  Base hit for the hitter with the runner advancing to second. That's it.

A fielder's choice requires that a fielder have a choice as to where to attempt to get the out. This is not the case in either of these scenarios because a base hit has occurred before the fielder even handles the ball.