Rule Question - Can Fielder hit runner with ball?

[ASAPAump]

Like SoCalDad said, usually (with a few exceptions) a runner is out if hit with a batted ball before anyone touches it.

The same can not be said for a thrown ball. Say a runner is sliding into a base, and the throw comes in low and beans him/her in the back. The runner wouldn't be out; this was just a bad throw by the defense.

As a few of the top umps on the boards have said... if we allowed outs for beaning a runner with the ball, we'd be playing dodge-softball. That wouldn't be too pretty.

 

[pkremer]

As a few of the top umps on the boards have said... if we allowed outs for beaning a runner with the ball, we'd be playing dodge-softball. That wouldn't be too pretty.

Thanks everyone! This is exactly the argument I used...

If a runner was out because a baseman threw the ball and hit him, then there would be a lot more injuries as baseman would start beaning them all the time!

 

[MTR]

If a runner was out because a baseman threw the ball and hit him, then there would be a lot more injuries as baseman would start beaning them all the time!

Yeah, but applying a logical argument to a softball game?