Infield fly rule applicability can include a ball that is a line drive. Which statement about this is true?

Infield fly rule applicability can include a ball that is a line drive. Which statement about this is true?

• A. It must be a line drive.
• B. It cannot be a line drive.
• C. It can be a line drive.
• D. It is never a line drive.

Answer: (C)

The rule hinges on whether a fair ball is a fly ball that could be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, under the specific base-out situation. The shape of the hit doesn’t automatically exclude or require it to be a line drive. If a ball is infield, fair, and could be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, and the bases/outs conditions are met, the infield fly rule can apply—even if the ball is a line drive. So a line drive that is still in the infield and could be caught with ordinary effort can trigger the rule, resulting in the batter being out and runners advancing at their own risk.

The rule hinges on whether a fair ball is a fly ball that could be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, under the specific base-out situation. The shape of the hit doesn’t automatically exclude or require it to be a line drive. If a ball is infield, fair, and could be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, and the bases/outs conditions are met, the infield fly rule can apply—even if the ball is a line drive. So a line drive that is still in the infield and could be caught with ordinary effort can trigger the rule, resulting in the batter being out and runners advancing at their own risk.