Force play

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In baseball, a force play occurs in any situation when a batter becomes a runner and gets put out when an opponent with possession of the ball reaches first base before the batter can get there.

It also occurs in any situation in which a base-runner is compelled (or forced) to vacate their starting base and attempt to advance to the next base. When a runner is forced to advance to a base, they are forced out if an opponent with possession of the ball reaches that base before they do. Runners are no longer forced to advance to the next base if any runner behind them on the base-paths is put out.

A runner at first base is always forced to attempt to advance to second base when the batter becomes a runner. Runners at second or third base are forced only when all bases preceding their time-of-pitch base are occupied by other base-runners and the batter becomes a runner.