The rules for tagging a player out in baseball depend on game situations. Fielders may have different options for tagging a player out, including tagging a base, or physically touching the player with the ball. Understanding baseball tag rules can ensure you don't make a mistake while playing in a game.
Tagging Bases
Force-outs occur when a fielder gets the ball and touches the base the runner is trying to reach before the runner does. For example, a player at first base is forced to run to second base if the batter hits a grounder; that runner is out if you tag second base while in possession of the ball before the runner reaches.
You can also tag the base to force out a runner if the ball is hit in the air and the runner moves off the base. Base runners must touch the base they were on after the ball is caught --- called tagging up --- before attempting to advance to the next base. You can tag the base while holding the ball if the ball is caught before it touches the ground, and the base runner is off the base when it is caught.
You cannot force a player out by tagging a base when the player is not forced to run.
Tagging Players
Fielders can tag out a base runner by touching his body with the ball, or with a glove that is holding the ball, the rules of Major League Baseball note. You must physically tag the runner with the ball if it is not a force-out situation. A physical tag on the player is needed if a base runner attempts to steal a base, if the pitcher attempts to pick a player off a base before a pitch, or when the batter puts a ball in a play and a runner not being forced to run tries to advance to the next base.
Running Error Tag Outs
Base-running errors can result in special situations where you can tag the base or the player to make an out. If two players are both standing on a base, you can tag out the runner who is reaching that base for the first time, MLB rules. For example, if two players are on second base, the player who first reached the base is safe, while the other player may be tagged out.
You can also tag a runner out if he misses a base, by touching the runner with the ball, or by touching the base missed by the runner. The base runner can avoid making an out by returning to the base he missed before you tag him or the base, while in possession of the ball.
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