St. John's bizarre baseball play

It’s not often a piece of protective gear decides a baseball game.

It happened Tuesday night in the St. John’s vs. Fairfield game. A day later, the play has sparked a viral video and led to huge debate among fans.

The scenario: In the 11th inning, Fairfield pitcher Grant Smeltzer threw a pitch in the dirt. Catcher Tyler Kipp made a nice block. However, right before the ball rolled to a stop, he touched the ball with his face mask.

The first-base umpire immediately called interference on Kipp for illegal use of his catcher’s equipment. So, he waved the runner on third base to score.

The video logged more than 3.2 million views in its first 24 hours.

That run ultimately proved to be the game-winner, as St. John’s held Fairfield scoreless in the bottom of the 11th to win, 5-4.

So what is the ruling? Many fans contended the play is known as a catcher’s balk. Others vehemently disagreed. Part of the confusion might stem from a similar situation in a 2021 MLB game. On that play, San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali also used his mask to stop a ball in the dirt, and both runners were allowed to advance one base.

 

According to MLB.com, the official scorer erroneously ruled that play a “catcher’s balk.” The proper ruling, according to MLB.com, is that runners are allowed to advance one base when “A fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person.”

The general consensus is that the Fairfield catcher’s mistake should have been ruled an error, for improper use of equipment, and the runner allowed to advance. Some Twitter users got heated debating the official ruling.

[Baseball Quotes]; Outkick.com]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.