The Myth of the Out for Turning the Wrong Way

When Phillies 1B Bryce Harper tagged out Cardinals batter-runner Victor Scott in St Louis, the home broadcast speculated 1B Umpire Adam Hamari called Scott out for a "turn the wrong way" violation after hitting an infield single and sprinting past first base.

Let's review the rule and clear up the myth that simply turning into fair territory puts a runner in jeopardy of being tagged out after overrunning first base.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(11) makes no mention of which way to turn, but instead states, "Any runner is out when they fail to return at once to first base after overrunning or oversliding that base. If they attempt to run to second they are out when tagged..."

The phrase "if they attempt to run to second" is interpreted as a physical indication from the batter-runner that they are attempting to advance beyond first base. For most plays of this nature—and true for the Scott play here as well—this manifests by a sudden shuffle of the feet as the player turns his body and moves toward the next base.

This is deemed an attempt to advance and, thus, puts the batter-runner in jeopardy of being tagged out while off the base due to overrun protection ending at the moment said player attempts to advance.

In sum, although "turning the wrong way" can provide a clue that a batter-runner has lost overrun/overslide protection, simply turning toward fair territory/the left is not ample evidence alone to suggest such a player has fulfilled the "attempt to run to second" portion of the rule.

By a similar token, turning toward foul territory may not be entirely foolproof either, as many a batter-runner has turned to the right before then changing course and attempting to advance—however briefly.

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs Detroit Tigers, 4/18/24 | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: BR Scott loses overrun protection after attempt to 2B, tagged out