Tag out

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In baseball and softball, a tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out because a fielder touches him with the ball or with the hand or glove holding the ball, while the ball is live and the runner is in jeopardy of being put out – usually when he is not touching a base.

A baserunner is in jeopardy when any of the following are true:

1. he is not touching a base (excluding overrunning of first base or when advancing to an awarded base, such as on a base on balls);
2. he is touching a base he has been forced to vacate because the batter became a baserunner (a forced runner)
3. he has not tagged up on a caught fly ball;
4. he failed to touch a base when he last passed it, or failed to touch them in order; or
5. he is touching a base that a preceding baserunner is also touching (excludes touching a base he was forced to advance to, in which case the preceding baserunner is in jeopardy unless also forced to advance to an awarded base)

A tag is therefore the most common way to retire baserunners who are not in danger of being forced out, though a forced runner may also be tagged out in lieu of stepping on the forced base. Additionally, a tag out can be used on an appeal play.