Minute Maid Park Ground Rules

CAMERA WELLS:

• Ball striking low signage in front of first base and third base camera wells and rebounding onto playing field: In Play.
• Ball striking low signage in front of first base and third base camera wells and continuing into the camera well: Out of Play.

OUTFIELD AREA:

• Fair batted bounding ball striking the railings on the inclined walls down the left and right field lines in foul territory: In Play.
• Batted ball strikes higher wall or railing at a point above the lower wall and rebounds over lower wall: Home Run.

LEFT FIELD AREA:

• Batted ball goes through or lodges in out-of-town scoreboard, either on bounce or in flight: Two Bases.
• Batted ball hits the top of the out-of-town scoreboard ledge and goes into the stands: Two Bases.
• Batted ball striking below top of scoreboard wall and bounding over wall: Two Bases.
• Batted ball in flight strikes yellow line on fence or top of railing in left-center field at a point above the stands and bounds into stands: Home Run.
• Batted ball hits the side railing of the Crawford Boxes and goes into the stands: Two Bases.
• Batted ball in flight strikes yellow line on fence or top of railing in left-center field and rebounds onto the playing field: In Play.
• Batted ball strikes screen in left-center field and rebounds onto playing field: In Play.

RIGHT FIELD AREA:

• Batted ball in flight strikes safety railing on top of the outfield wall to the center field side of the field access gate in right field: Home Run.
• Batted bounding ball strikes safety railing on top of the outfield wall to the center field side of the field access gate in right field: Two Bases.
• Batted ball in flight striking the yellow metal caps on top of outfield wall in front of right-center field bullpen: In Play.
• Batted ball in flight strikes green safety fence to the right field side of the right-center field bullpen: Home Run.
• Batted bounding ball strikes green safety fence to the right field side of the right-center field bullpen: Two Bases.
• Batted ball in flight striking the top of the wall in the right field above the padding beyond the yellow line and rebounding onto playing field: Home Run.

ROOF:

• Batted ball strikes roof over fair territory: In Play.
  If caught by fielder, batter is out and runners advance at own risk.
• Batted ball strikes roof over foul territory: Dead Ball.

MOVEMENT OF ROOF AND/OR WALL PANELS

• Please refer to MLB Standards 1-11 regarding the opening and closing of retractable roofs and/or wall panels and, where applicable, supplement with each individual ballpark’s guidelines for their retractable roof and/or wall panels.

Conditions under which starting a game with a closed roof at Minute Maid Park is considered:

• Air temperature or heat index readings above 77 degrees or below 65 degrees during the game window
• Threat of rain or severe weather before or during the game window
• Threat of excessive wind (above 20 mph sustained) during the game window
• Dew point 55 degrees and above during the game window
• Relative humidity 50% and above during the game window
• All Marquee Games or Jewel Event Games, in accordance with security and safety recommendations from public officials and Safety Act consultants

The Commissioner's Office has issued the following Universal Ground Rules for use in all Major League ballparks this season. Ground Rules pertaining to individual parks are posted separately in those parks.

• Ball on the top step (lip) of the dugout is in play.
  • No equipment is permitted to be left on the top step (lip) of the dugout. If a ball hits equipment left on the top step it is dead.
• A player is not permitted to step or go into a dugout to make a catch.
  • A player is permitted to reach into a dugout to make a catch. If a player makes a catch outside the dugout and the player's momentum carries him into the dugout, then the catch is allowed and the ballis dead. See Rule5.09(a)(1) Comment.
• A batted ball in flight can be caught between or under railings and around screens.
• A catch may be made on the field tarp.
• Batted or thrown ball lodging in the rotating signage behind home plate or along first base or third base stands is out of play.
  • Batted or thrown ball resting on the rotating signage behind home plate or along first base or third base stands is in play.
• The facings of railings surrounding the dugout and photographers areas are in play.
  • Any cameras or microphones permanently attached on railings or along outfield walls are treated as part of the railings or outfield walls and are in play.
  • Any recessed railings or poles that are in the dugout and photographers areas are out of play and should be marked with red to mark them out of play.
• Robotic cameras or audio equipment attached to the facing of the backstop screen are considered part of the screen.
  • A batted ball striking the backstop camera or audio equipment is considered a dead ball.
  • A thrown ball striking the backstop camera or audio equipment is considered in play.
• A ball striking the guy wires that support the backstop is a dead ball.
• A ball lodging behind or under canvas on field tarp is out of play.
• A ball striking the field tarp and rebounding onto the playing field is in play.
• No chairs can be brought out of the dugout or bullpen and onto the playing field.
• All yellow lines are in play.