Minors Rules

These are the regular season playing rules for our Minors division. These rules are in addition to the common MAC League General Rules. For Spring Season post-season play, please refer to the additional Playoff Rules.

These rules are in addition to, replace or clarify the official rules in the Cal Ripken Minors Division Ruleset.

Batting

1. The ball is a live ball from the time the ball passes home plate on a pitch until the time it is back in the pitchers hand on the mound OR -
2. The catchers is stopped in the catchers box AND
3. The pitcher is on the mound AND
4. The runner has stopped forward progress
5. If the catcher leaves the catchers box to "chase" a player back to a base, the ball remains live, and if the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher when he is outside the catchers box, any runners who did not already stop forward progress can advance at their own peril.
6. Each inning has a limit of 4 runs per team. When the fourth run crosses the plate, that half of the inning ends and the team at bat takes the field. This rule does not apply to the 6th or last inning where both teams can score unlimited runs. The umpire must notify the coaches before the start of the last inning.
7. On deck batters are allowed behind the 3rd or 1st base coaches, or preferably outside the field of play. Coaches will be responsible for understanding and administering where on deck batters are allowed to warm up. Check with the home team coach for in-town specific rules that must be followed.
8. Every team member must be in a consistent batting order. The batting order may not change during a game.
9. Games will be played on a diamond with 60’ base paths.
10. All players must use a bat that has been certified by USABat. BBCOR or USSSA bats are not allowed. Coaches are responsible for ensuring their players are using approved bats. 
11. Any player throwing equipment, with malice, will get a warning the first time it happens. The second time, the player will be automatically ejected from the game. The umpire may eject the player on the first incident if they determine the level of malice warrants an immediate ejection.
12. Any player throwing a bat, without malice, will get a warning the first time it happens. The second time, the player will be called out, and must then be removed from the batting lineup for the remainder of the game. The player can and should still play on defense. When that person’s spot in the lineup comes up the next time, the slot should simply be skipped, and no out should be recorded.
13. There shall be no slashing. Slashing is defined as: the pitcher is on the pitching rubber and the batter fakes a bunt to draw the infielders in and then the batter swings away. The pitcher does not need to be in his windup, the ball does not need to be struck. This is a safety issue, with the batter showing bunt, the charging third baseman does not stand a chance of protecting himself against a line drive off an aluminum bat. Penalty: Batter is out, and ball is dead. A second offense will result in the batter being ejected.
14. The slide or avoid rule is in effect. It is mandatory that a base runner​ slides or avoids when there is an imminent play at second (2nd), third​ (3rd) base or home plate. The base runner, at the sole discretion and​ judgment of the umpire, should be called out for not sliding or avoiding or if contact is made.​
15. Players hit by a pitch will be awarded first base, and the batter must take first base (if a batter is hurt and unable to run, he/she may be replaced by the last person that was called out).
16. If a player’s bat contacts the ball with any part of their body touching outside of the batter’s box, the coach will be given a single warning for their team. If any further players on that team makes the same infraction within the game, they will be called out.
17. Bunting is permitted. All established baseball rules are in effect (for instance, a foul bunt with two strikes is considered a strikeout).
18. Intentional headfirst sliding into a forward base is not allowed and will result in an out being called on the player. Headfirst sliding returning to a previously occupied base is allowed. 
19. Outfielders are not allowed to play within the infield limits. They should never be standing on the infield dirt.
20. Both passed balls and wild pitches are considered "steals".
21. A base runner may advance only one base on an error. Multiple errors will not result in an extra base. For example, if the pitcher throws the ball over the 2nd baseman’s head, the runner may advance to 3rd, but if another fielder throws it over the 3rd baseman’s head immediately following, the runner will not be awarded another base.
22. Base stealing will be allowed in a modified format. These rules include:
23. An unlimited number of steals is allowed each inning.
24. Individual players may steal more than 1 base in an inning, but not more than 1 per play per runner.
25. A player may not advance to another base on a catchers overthrow (runner leads at their own peril)
26. Catchers are encouraged to try to throw out a player stealing. As there are no extra bases allowed on an error/overthrow for throw downs, there is no downside to teaching kids to throw the ball.
27. A player is allowed to steal home. This is allowed up to two successful attempts per inning per team.
28. In a 1st and 3rd situation, if the runner on 1st steals 2nd base, the runner on 3rd is frozen and cannot advance.  
29. When stealing, runners may leave the base only when the ball crosses the plate. Runners may attempt to steal any base (except 1st base) after a pitch has crossed the plate. If a player leaves the base before the ball crosses the plate, then the umpire will instruct the player to return to the base. 
30. There are no “delayed steals”. Runners must return to their base when the play has ended when the pitcher has the ball and is on the mound (i.e., dirt around the mound or portable mound). Additionally, prior to the ball returning to the pitcher, if the catcher remains in the catcher’s box and the runners have stopped forward momentum, the runners must return to their base.
31. The infield fly rule is NOT in effect.
32. The dropped third strike rule is NOT in effect.
33. Two adult base coaches are permitted. They must be rostered coaches or CORI non-rostered adults. Rostered players are also allowed to base coach, but must be wearing a helmet.
34. When there are two outs a courtesy runner for catchers is allowed and should be used whenever possible. A courtesy runner must be the last person who made an out.
35. Leading is NOT allowed.

Defense

1. All players must be in the game for 6 defensive outs. This rule applies to regulation 6 inning games. Failure to comply with this rule will result in an automatic forfeit by the team not complying. However, in a shortened game (darkness, weather, etc.) failure to comply will not result in an automatic forfeit.
2. Free defensive substitutions are allowed between innings.
3. Teams have the option of playing with either the traditional three outfielders (LF, CF, RF) or four outfielders (Left Field, Left-Center, Right-Center and Right Field). It is recommended at this level that both teams play with four outfielders. If one team does choose to play with three outfielders, it does not require the second team to play with three.
4. It is strongly recommended that all players be given the opportunity to play an infield position at least one inning per game.

Pitching

1. The distance of the pitching mound to home plate will be 46 feet. 
2. In order to maintain the health of or our young players arms, the MAC League has adopted the MLB/USA Baseball Pitch Smart Guidelines for the number of pitches and days of rest required between pitching appearances. We will be adopting the following pitching rules for the regular season.
3. Players cannot pitch in multiple games on the same day.
4. Recommendation – For safety, players should avoid catching and pitching during the same game.
5. Once removed from pitching, a player may not return as a pitcher for that game.
6. Recommendation – For safety, players pitching for teams other than their MAC league team, should count their pitches and pitching appearances on those teams as if it was the same team.
7. No pitcher shall appear as a pitcher for three consecutive days (not games), regardless of pitch count.
8. (Spring) If during a single at bat, the pitcher reaches their daily max for pitches, they MAY finish the batter before being pulled out. 
9. (Spring) A pitcher may NOT finish a batter if they are about to cross a day’s rest threshold if you want them to have the previous rest threshold amount. This means that if during an at bat, Johnny is at 35 total pitches, he needs to be pulled out during the at bat if you want to keep him to 1 days’ rest. If he finishes the batter and ends up with 36 pitches, he will be required to have 2 days’ rest.
10. (Spring) The number of pitches allowed and the rest required afterwards.  An example is that if Johnny pitches 36 pitches on Monday, he is not allowed to pitch on Tuesday or Wednesday and will be allowed to then pitch again on Thursday.
11. Daily Max = 75
12. No Rest = 1-20
13. 1 Day Rest = 21-35
14. 2 Days Rest = 36-50
15. 3 Days Rest = 51-65
16. 4 Days Rest = 66+
17. (Spring) Pitch counts will be required to be recorded using either a manual pitch counter or an electronic device/app. The pitch counts must be provided to the league within 24 hours of the completion of a game. It is recommended that between innings, and at the conclusion of the game, coaches confer with each other on the number of pitches thrown. If there is a discrepancy, the coach using an electronic device will have their pitch counts be the official numbers.
18. (Summer & Fall) Each pitcher will be limited to 3 innings maximum per game.
19. If a pitcher hits 4 players total within a game (not necessarily a single inning), then that player must be removed from the pitching position for the remainder of that game. 
20. Pitching substitution may be done during an inning. Substitutions DO NOT NEED TO BE 1 FOR 1. Example: Johnny is pitching, Billy is playing 1st base and Bobby is playing right field. Johnny is replaced by Billy; Billy is replaced by Bobby and Bobby is replaced by Johnny. 
21. A new pitcher gets 6 warmup pitches, returning pitchers only get 4 warmup pitches between innings. (This is intended to speed up the game)
22. Only coaches, assistants or team members are allowed to warm up the pitcher. Any player warming up the pitcher MUST wear a helmet. Adults are not required to wear a helmet to warm up the pitcher.
23. Any visit to the mound by a coach after the first pitch and before the last out will count as an official visit. If it is the second visit of the inning the pitcher must be removed. The umpire, at their sole discretion, may allow for additional visits for a player health check.
24. No balks will be called at this level.