How to Understand the Sacrifice Fly in Baseball

There are dozens of ways to score runs in baseball, but the sacrifice fly is among the least understood by the casual fan. Here's how it works.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A general knowledge of baseball

1. Understand that a sacrifice fly can only be achieved on a fly ball, almost exclusively to an outfielder.
2. Realize that there must be a runner on third base for a sacrifice fly to be possible.
3. Safe or out? Either way, this runner must have gotten one heck of a headache! Learn that the runner on third base cannot take off until the fly ball has been caught. If he has strayed from the bag, he must touch it after the catch has been made before running toward home plate.
4. Understand that there must be zero or one out in the inning for a sacrifice fly to be achieved. If there are two outs, the catch in the outfield ends the inning.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn about the fastest runners and strongest-armed outfielders on the hometown team and in major league baseball. It will then be easier to appreciate their talents when it comes to scoring or preventing a sacrifice fly.