Padres Lose Game-Tying HR After Ball Hits Wall

What looked like Padres batter Ha-Seong Kim's game-tying home run vs Miami in the 9th inning turned into a double after Replay Review determined the ball that left the playing field failed to do so "in flight" and as such entitled the batter-runner to just two bases.

With two outs in the top of the 9th inning, and Miami leading San Diego 7-6, Padres batter Kim hit a 1-0 fastball from Marlins pitcher Andrew Nardi on a fly ball to deep left-center field where left fielder Kyle Stowers leapt to try and make a game-winning catch, only to see the ball bounce off the outfield wall, then his glove, before caroming over the wall.

Initially ruled a home run by 2B Umpire Scott Barry, Replay overturned the call to a double, which ultimately resulted in a Padres loss as Luis Campusano struck out swinging to end the game.

Should the home run have stood? Here is the rule used to justify the call.

Official Baseball Rule 5.05(a) discusses base awards, granting four bases for a fair ball that passes over a fence while giving just two bases for a bounding fair ball deflected by the fielder into the stands.

There is a specific MLB Umpire Manual interpretation on this point stating "a fair fly ball striking the top of the outfield wall and bounding over the wall shall be ruled a home run."

MLBUM continues, "A fair fly ball striking the top of the outfield wall and bounding back onto the playing field shall be treated the same as a fair fly ball that strikes the outfield wall and rebounds back onto the playing field (in play but may not be caught for the purposes of an out)".

Of similar importance, OBR defines "in flight" as "a batted, thrown, or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object other than a fielder."

Accordingly, because the fair fly ball struck the outfield fence and bounded back onto the playing field before then changing direction a second time upon hitting the fielder's glove and ultimately bouncing over the wall, it is deemed a ball rebounding onto the playing field and, thus, a double when the fielder deflected this now-bounding (and not "in flight") ball out of play.

Video as follows:
Alternate Link: Replay overturns home run call because ball hit the wall & bounced back onto the field