Quick Reference - Minors
Updated 4.26.23
Minor League Game Rules
A game can be played with 7 or more players.
Games must start promptly at 5:30pm
An inning may not start after 7:15pm
The first two weeks are 4 innings.
The remaining weeks are 5 innings or 7:15pm (unless determined to remain at 4 innings by the Minor League body).
The winning coach is responsible for updating the win and score on SportsEngine.
Batting/Offense
Batting Order is a running batting order, meaning every player is in the batting lineup for the entire game. There are no batting substitutes.
There are no ghost outs, a team only bats however many players they have with no repercussions during the inning.
If a player swings at a pitch and is hit by the pitch, this is not a free base. It counts as a strike. If a player is hit by a pitch by a player without swinging, it will be a base reward for the hit batter.
If a batted ball hits that player’s teammate that is running, the runner is out, unless the runner is hit while on an actual base, then they may stay.
If the team on defense throws the ball and hits the runner, the ball is dead and the runner is safe.
We have no headfirst sliding, unless it is a return to the base.
On-deck batters are not allowed on any part of the field.
When a team scores 5 runs in an inning, the inning is over and they take the field on defense. If it is the last inning, there is no run limit.
Throwing the bat after a hit ball may result in a warning and the next time the loss at bat for the hitter as this is very dangerous for the catcher.
Throwing equipment out of anger and arguing umpire calls will result in a warning and may result in ejection from the game depending on severity. Subject to umpire and president’s discretion.
A player may no longer run once the pitcher is anywhere in the dirt around the mound. If they do, they will just return to the base they came from.
If a coach touches their player while running, that player is automatically out.
ONLY the coach should speak to the player in the batters box. Please do not coach other teams' players in the batting box, even if you mean well.
Pitch Count
Link
Please note, pitch counts also affect a catcher, here is a cheat sheet for that
If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more (15- and 16-year-olds: 31 pitches or more) in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day.
Defense
Every player must be in the field at least 2 times in a game. This can be consecutive or non-consecutive. It is a guaranteed right to a player on the roster, but more than 2 defense innings is not guaranteed.
Coach is allowed one trip per inning, if there is a second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed. The umpire will tell you which number trip you are on.
Pitchers must pitch from the mound unless the umpire and both managers agree to move the pitcher up. The location to pitch from will be no more than a foot from the mound.
After every inning the pitch count keepers should exchange pitching information so that players do not go over pitch limit or pitch limit for the next game.
Minor League Game Rules
A game can be played with 7 or more players.
Games must start promptly at 5:30pm
An inning may not start after 7:15pm
The first two weeks are 4 innings.
The remaining weeks are 5 innings or 7:15pm (unless determined to remain at 4 innings by the Minor League body).
The winning coach is responsible for updating the win and score on SportsEngine.
Batting/Offense
Batting Order is a running batting order, meaning every player is in the batting lineup for the entire game. There are no batting substitutes.
There are no ghost outs, a team only bats however many players they have with no repercussions during the inning.
If a player swings at a pitch and is hit by the pitch, this is not a free base. It counts as a strike. If a player is hit by a pitch by a player without swinging, it will be a base reward for the hit batter.
If a batted ball hits that player’s teammate that is running, the runner is out, unless the runner is hit while on an actual base, then they may stay.
If the team on defense throws the ball and hits the runner, the ball is dead and the runner is safe.
We have no headfirst sliding, unless it is a return to the base.
On-deck batters are not allowed on any part of the field.
When a team scores 5 runs in an inning, the inning is over and they take the field on defense. If it is the last inning, there is no run limit.
Throwing the bat after a hit ball may result in a warning and the next time the loss at bat for the hitter as this is very dangerous for the catcher.
Throwing equipment out of anger and arguing umpire calls will result in a warning and may result in ejection from the game depending on severity. Subject to umpire and president’s discretion.
A player may no longer run once the pitcher is anywhere in the dirt around the mound. If they do, they will just return to the base they came from.
If a coach touches their player while running, that player is automatically out.
ONLY the coach should speak to the player in the batters box. Please do not coach other teams' players in the batting box, even if you mean well.
Pitch Count
Link
Please note, pitch counts also affect a catcher, here is a cheat sheet for that
If a player delivers 41 or more pitches, and is not covered under the threshold exception, the player may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.
Any player who has played the position of catcher in four (4) or more innings in a game is not eligible to pitch on that calendar day.
A player who played the position of catcher for three (3) innings or less, moves to the pitcher position, and delivers 21 pitches or more (15- and 16-year-olds: 31 pitches or more) in the same day, may not return to the catcher position on that calendar day.
Defense
Every player must be in the field at least 2 times in a game. This can be consecutive or non-consecutive. It is a guaranteed right to a player on the roster, but more than 2 defense innings is not guaranteed.
Coach is allowed one trip per inning, if there is a second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning, that pitcher must be removed. The umpire will tell you which number trip you are on.
Pitchers must pitch from the mound unless the umpire and both managers agree to move the pitcher up. The location to pitch from will be no more than a foot from the mound.
After every inning the pitch count keepers should exchange pitching information so that players do not go over pitch limit or pitch limit for the next game.