Rangers' Heim Catches Foul Tip off Mask - Review

When HP Umpire Mike Muchlinski ruled an out on Marlins batter JJ Bleday's 7th inning foul that deflected off Rangers catcher Jonah Heim before a diving catch, we were asked to review the foul tip rule.

In sum, this play meets the criteria for a foul tip pursuant to current MLB rules, but had this play occurred prior to 2020, provided the ball was ruled to have contacted the catcher's mask before any other part of his equipment or paraphernalia, it would not have been a foul tip.

This is because the Official Baseball Rules, circa 2019, stated that, "A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball has first touched the catcher’s glove or hand."

In 2020, this language was changed to read, "A FOUL TIP is a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught, and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play."

Accordingly, this is a foul tip and, with two strikes on the batter, a swinging strikeout, under professional rules. This also applies to NCAA rules, but not (yet) to NFHS.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Bat-to-mask-to-mitt diving catch is ruled foul tip under present definition (CCS)