Substitutions and Courtesy Runners

The differences between a Substitute, Unreported Substitute and Illegal Substitute will be defined in this discussion along with any penalties which could result.

Substitute: A player who is eligible to replace another player already in the lineup.

Obviously this is legal and there is never any penalty for making a legal substitution.

Unreported Substitute: A player who, by rule, can be in the game but has entered without reporting.

There is no penalty for an unreported substitution. The unreported substitution will be recorded when it is brought to the umpires attention.

Illegal Substitute: A player who:

enters or re-enters the game without eligibility to do so re-enters the game in the wrong position in the batting order is the DH and enters the game on defense as a substitute for another player other than the player he is batting for is the player for whom the DH is batting and enters the game as a batter or runner in a different position in the batting order violates a courtesy runner rule*

The penalty for an illegal substitution on offense is the player shall be called out and restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game. The penalty for an illegal substitution on defense is the player shall be restricted to the bench or dugout The penalty for illegal substitution shall supersede the penalty for batting out or order

• Note: Once the illegal substitute has become restricted to the bench/dugout he becomes a "restricted player". The penalty for a restricted player re-entering the game is:

1. if on offense, he is declared out and ejected from the game; if on defense, he is ejected from the game

Courtesy Runner Rules: (When allowed by league rules) A team may use courtesy runners for the pitcher and/or catcher. The same individual may not be used for both positions. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher will be required to leave the game under the courtesy runner rule Players who have participated in the game in any other capacity are not eligible to serve as courtesy runners A player may not run as a courtesy runner for the pitcher or catcher and then be used as a substitute for another player in that half inning. (He may not run for the pitcher or catcher and then pinch hit for another hitter later in that inning). The umpire shall record and announce to the scorer courtesy runner participation A player who violates the courtesy runner rule is considered an illegal substitute