What Is a Ground Rule Double in Baseball?
Quick answer
When a fair ball bounces over the outfield fence or out of play, the batter is awarded second base and every runner advances two bases.
In this article
A ground rule double happens when a fair batted ball bounces over the outfield fence or otherwise goes out of play. The ball is dead, the batter is awarded second base, and every runner advances two bases from where he was when the pitch was thrown.
When it's a ground rule double
- A fair ball bounces in the outfield and goes over the fence.
- A fair ball rolls under or gets stuck in the fence, padding or scoreboard.
- A ball gets lost in a park-specific spot covered by its ground rules, like the ivy at Wrigley Field (the outfielder raises his arms to show the umpire it's stuck).
It's not a ground rule double when a fan reaches over and touches a ball in play. That's fan interference, and the umpire places the runners where he thinks they would have ended up.
How runners advance
Every runner gets exactly two bases from the time of the pitch:
| Runner starting on | Ends up on |
|---|---|
| Batter | Second base |
| First base | Third base |
| Second base | Scores |
| Third base | Scores |
That's why a ground rule double can hurt the offense: a fast runner on first who would easily have scored on a ball to the gap has to stop at third.
Ground rule vs. automatic double
Strictly speaking, a ball bouncing over the fence is an automatic double under the official rules. A true ground rule double comes from a park's own ground rules, which cover quirks like ivy, catwalks, roofs and odd fences. In everyday talk, everyone calls both a ground rule double.
Double or home run?
- Fly ball off a fielder and over the fence in fair territory, without touching the ground: home run.
- Ball bounces on the warning track, then over the fence: ground rule double.
- Ball hits the top of the wall and bounces over: depends on the park's ground rules, so check the yellow line markings.
How it's scored
The batter gets a double in his stats, which counts toward his slugging percentage and batting average. Runners who score count normally.
Related terms
- Dinger: when it clears the fence on the fly
- Walk-off: a ground rule double can still end a game
- Biggest baseball stadiums: where the quirky ground rules live
More definitions: baseball terms explained.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ground rule double?
It is an automatic two-base award when a fair batted ball bounces over the outfield fence or otherwise goes out of play. The batter goes to second and every runner advances two bases.
Can a runner on first score on a ground rule double?
No. Each runner gets exactly two bases from where he was when the pitch was thrown, so a runner on first stops at third, even if he would have scored.
What is the difference between a ground rule double and an automatic double?
Strictly, an automatic double comes from the rulebook (a ball bouncing over the fence), while a ground rule double comes from a ballpark's own rules, like a ball stuck in Wrigley Field's ivy. Most people call both ground rule doubles.
Is a ball that bounces off a fielder over the fence a home run?
If a fly ball deflects off a fielder and over the fence in fair territory without touching the ground, it is a home run. If it bounces on the ground first, it is a ground rule double.
