Courtesy runner for pitcher or catcher

Situation

The pitcher or the catcher has reached base. Your rules allow a courtesy runner. The original player will still bat in their own spot.

What happens on the field

• A courtesy runner takes the pitcher or catcher's place on the bases. That runner does not take a new spot in the batting order.
• It is not a pinch runner and not a stolen base.
• When the half inning ends, the pitcher or catcher returns to their defensive spot.

How the book should look

• The batting order does not change. The courtesy runner is a base runner only.

A common miss is entering a substitute batter, or scoring a stolen base for the exchange.

In DugoutDesk

1. Tap the runner on base, then Set courtesy runner, and pick who runs.
2. You can also record courtesy runners on the lineup. Batting order and DP/FLEX setup are in the lineups article under Related.

The app checks that the player is in the lineup. It does not decide whether your book allows a courtesy runner, or who is allowed to run. Live scoring is free. Hit spray is not part of a courtesy runner.

Ruleset notes

Travel softball under USA Softball and USSSA commonly allows a courtesy runner for the pitcher and the catcher, often a player who is not currently in the lineup. NFHS softball has its own courtesy-runner rule. Baseball under NFHS, Little League, PONY, or Babe Ruth often has no courtesy runner, or only a local exception.

If the umpire does not allow it, do not enter one. This is not a rules certification.