What Is a Force Out in Baseball? Force Play Rules Explained

A force out in baseball is a putout on a baserunner who is legally required to advance to the next base — usually because the batter just put the ball in play — and gets there before the runner does while holding the ball, no tag required. It is one of the most common ways defenses record outs, and understanding it is essential to following any baseball game, from a routine grounder to a game-ending double play.

How a Force Out Works

A force out exists because of a simple rule: only one runner can legally occupy a base at a time. When a batter puts a ball in play and becomes a batter-runner heading to first base, any runner already standing on first has to vacate it — they are “forced” to try for second. If a runner on second is also bumped forward by the runner coming from first, they are forced to third, and so on down the base path like a chain reaction.

Because the rules require these runners to advance, the defense does not need to tag them to get an out. A fielder only needs to:

1. Gain secure possession of the ball, and
2. Touch the base the runner is forced to reach

…before the runner arrives there. That is a force out, officially scored FO in some scorekeeping systems and typically recorded as a routine assist-putout combination (for example, “6-4” on a shortstop-to-second-baseman force play).

The Classic Example

The textbook force-out scenario: a runner stands on first base, and the batter hits a ground ball to the shortstop. The runner on first is forced to run to second because the batter-runner is coming to occupy first base. The shortstop fields the ball, flips it (or throws it) to the second baseman, who steps on second base before the runner arrives. That is a force out at second — no tag needed.

This is also the foundation of the most common double play in baseball, sometimes called the “4-6-3” or “6-4-3” depending on which infielders are involved: a force out at second base immediately followed by a throw to first for a second out.

When a Runner Is NOT Forced

Not every runner on base is forced to advance. A runner is only forced when a teammate behind them has nowhere else to go. Some key situations:

• Runner on second only, nobody on first: Not forced. The runner can stay at second or advance at their own risk, and the defense must tag them to get them out.
• Runners on first and second: The runner on second IS forced to third because the runner from first is coming to second.
• Runner on third only: Not forced unless first and second are both occupied, since nobody is required to take third from behind.
• Bases loaded: Every runner is forced, all the way to home plate, since the chain reaction runs the entire base path.

Runners on base	Batter hits a ground ball	Is the lead runner forced?
Runner on 1st only	Grounder to infield	Yes — forced to 2nd
Runner on 2nd only	Grounder to infield	No — must be tagged
Runners on 1st & 2nd	Grounder to infield	Both forced (2nd to 3rd, 1st to 2nd)
Runner on 3rd only	Grounder to infield	No — must be tagged
Bases loaded	Grounder to infield	All three runners forced

Force Outs and Scoring Runs

One of the most important — and most misunderstood — force out rules involves runs. If the third out of an inning is a force out, no run scores on that play, no matter what else happened. Even if a runner from third crossed home plate a split second before the force out was completed at another base, the run does not count. This is different from a tag-out or a fly-ball third out, where a run can sometimes score if the runner crossed home before the out was recorded (a “time play”). Because of this rule, defenses will often choose the force out over a tag or a throw to first specifically to erase a run that would otherwise score.

Reverse Force Outs

A reverse force out is a wrinkle that shows up on double plays. Once the lead force out is recorded (say, the runner from first is out at second), the force is removed from any other runner — but if that other runner is still retired before getting back to their original base, it is called a reverse force out. This typically happens on an around-the-horn double play, such as a 5-4-3 (third base to second base to first base), where the runner going from second to third is retired by a tag after the force at third has technically already been broken by the first out.

Force Out vs. Tag Out vs. Fielder’s Choice

These three terms get mixed up often, so here is the difference:

• Force out: The runner must advance; the fielder only needs to touch the base with the ball.
• Tag out: The runner is not forced (or the force has been removed); the fielder must physically touch the runner with the ball or glove holding the ball.
• Fielder’s choice: A broader scorekeeping term for any play where a fielder, fielding a batted ball, chooses to throw to a base to get a runner out rather than throwing to first for the batter. The out recorded on a fielder’s choice is very often a force out, but the terms describe different things — one is the decision, the other is the type of out.

Why Force Outs Matter for Beginners

If you are new to watching baseball, force outs explain why infielders sprint to “cover” second base the instant a ground ball is hit with a runner on first, and why announcers say a runner was “forced” rather than “tagged.” Recognizing a force situation also helps you understand double plays, fielder’s-choice scoring on the box score, and why a run sometimes gets wiped off the board even though a runner clearly crossed home plate.

For more foundational baseball rules, see our full baseball terminology glossary, our breakdown of how a double play works, and our guide to baseball positions by number to understand who typically covers which base on a force play. You can also browse more explainers in our baseball and MLB hub.