Ground Rules

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 ball remains alive as long as the player does not fall while in the dugout. See Rule 6.05(a).
• 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 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 are treated as part of the railings 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 attached to the facing of the backstop screen are considered part of the screen.
• A batted ball striking the backstop camera is considered a dead ball.
• A thrown ball striking the backstop camera 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.

• Ball enters warning track adjacent to either side of the dugout seats: In Play

Left Field:

• Ball striking east (right) side of the Western Metal Supply Building, including yellow side of metal facing attached to the corner of the building: Home Run.
• Ball striking south (left) side of the Western Metal Supply Building, including non-yellow side of metal facing attached to the corner of the building: Foul Ball.
• Fair bounding ball bouncing into the seating area of the east (right) side of the Western Metal Supply Building and back onto the playing field: Out of Play.
• Ball in flight striking recessed batter's eye in left-center field: Home Run.
• Ball in flight striking above the black line on the left field foul pole: Home Run.
• Ball in flight striking the black line or below: In Play.

Right Field:

• Ball striking spectator rail at the Right Field Porch and rebounding onto the playing field: In Play.
• Ball in flight striking the top of the spectator rail at the Right Field Porch and bounding into the stands: Home Run.
• Ball striking the top of the right field videoboard wall (including both the padding and concrete portions on the top of the wall), regardless of whether it continues into the stands, stays on the top of the wall or rebounds onto the playing field: a. Batted ball in flight: Home Run. b. Batted bounding ball or thrown ball: Out of Play.
• Ball in flight striking to the left of the vertical yellow line in right-center field above padding: Home Run.
• Ball in flight striking plexiglass partition above yellow line in right field: Home Run.
• Bounding ball striking plexiglass partition above yellow line in right field: Two Bases.
• Ball in flight striking above the black line on the right field foul pole: Home Run.
• Ball in flight striking the black line or below: In Play.