Triple play

• First, there must be at least two baserunners, and no outs. From analysis of all MLB games 2011–2013, only 1.51% of at bats occur in such a scenario. By comparison, 27.06% of at bats occur with at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs, the scenario where a double play is possible.
• Second, activity must occur during the play that enables the defense to make three outs. Common events – such as the batter striking out, or hitting a fly ball – do not normally provide opportunity for a triple play. A ball hit sharply and directly to an infielder, who then takes very quick action – or unusual action, confusion, or mistakes by the baserunners – is usually needed.

  Examples

• The batter hits a ground ball to the third baseman, who steps on third base to force out the runner coming from second. The third baseman throws to the second baseman, who steps on second base to force out the runner coming from first. The second baseman throws to the first baseman, with the throw arriving in time to force out the batter. This is an example of grounding into a 5-4-3 triple play, also known as an "around the horn" triple play, per standard baseball positions.
• The baserunners start running in an attempt to steal or execute a hit and run play, and the batter hits a line drive to the second baseman, who catches it. The second baseman throws to the shortstop, who steps on second base before the runner who started there can tag up. The shortstop throws to the first baseman, who steps on first base before the runner who started there can tag up. This is an example of lining out into a 4-6-3 triple play.

  Most recent MLB triple play

Unassisted triple plays

Most recent MLB unassisted triple play

Unfielded triple play

Odd and notable triple plays

• On September 30, 1962, in the eighth inning of the last game of the 1962 Mets' 40–120 season, Joe Pignatano popped into a 4-3-6 triple play in his last MLB appearance. It was also the last game for Sammy Drake and Richie Ashburn, the two runners who were tagged out. Pignatano is the only player to end his career by hitting into a triple play.
• The New York Yankees got caught in a bizarre 2-5-3-1 triple play while facing the Minnesota Twins on May 29, 1982. Roy Smalley struck out, while both Yankees baserunners had taken off in an attempted double steal. The ball was thrown to third baseman Gary Gaetti, who chased baserunner Bobby Murcer back to second, where Murcer was safe. Gaetti then threw the ball to first baseman Kent Hrbek to tag baserunner Graig Nettles who was caught between first and second. Meanwhile, Murcer attempted to advance from second to third again. The ball was thrown from Hrbek to third base, where pitcher Terry Felton was covering, and Felton tagged Murcer.
• On April 14, 2002, designated hitter Ron Wright of the Seattle Mariners grounded into a triple-play in the fourth inning of the only MLB game of Wright's career. With runners on first and third. Sierra, meanwhile, had broken late for home, and Rodriguez fired to Bill Haselman. Haselman threw to third baseman Hank Blalock who threw to Rogers in the rundown; with Rogers tagging out Sierra. Rogers then threw to second baseman Michael Young, who tagged out Wright trying to reach second. The play was scored 1-6-2-5-1-4.
• The Yankees also turned one of the more complicated triple plays in MLB history. On April 12, 2013, with runners on first and second in the top of the 8th inning, Baltimore batter Manny Machado hit a sharp one-hopper to Yankees second baseman Robinson Canó. Canó fielded the ball and threw to shortstop Jayson Nix, forcing baserunner Nick Markakis for the first out. Instead of going to first for a routine double play, Nix opted to throw to third baseman Kevin Youkilis, catching baserunner Alexi Casilla between second and third. Youkilis chased Casilla back towards second and threw to Nix, who returned the throw to Youkilis, who tagged Casilla for the second out. Youkilis then threw to first baseman Lyle Overbay, catching Machado in a rundown between first and second. Overbay threw back to Canó, who tagged Machado sliding into second base for the third out. The play was scored 4-6-5-6-5-3-4.
• In a rare case of a triple play without the batter hitting the ball, a September 6, 2006 game between the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays resulted in three outs instigated from an attempt by the Mariners' Adrián Beltré to steal second base after cleanup hitter Raúl Ibañez struck out. The Devil Rays' catcher Dioner Navarro saw the attempt and threw the ball to shortstop Ben Zobrist, who tagged Beltré for the second out. Mariners' runner José López, who had been at third base during this play, tried to take advantage of the situation and steal home plate only for Zobrist to throw the ball back to Navarro who tagged López out. At the time, the Society for American Baseball Research believed this to be the only 2-6-2 triple play in Major League history.
• On May 9, 2015, with runners on second and third in the top of the 2nd inning, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina hit a line drive that was caught by Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker for the first out. Walker then threw to third baseman Jung Ho Kang who stepped on third before Jhonny Peralta could tag up, for the second out. Kang, after a moment's hesitation, then threw back to Walker who stepped on second before Jason Heyward could tag up, for the third out. It was the first 4-5-4 triple play in MLB history.
• On April 22, 2016, in a game between the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, with the bases loaded in the top of the 7th inning, Mitch Moreland of the Rangers hit a line drive to right field that was caught by Adam Eaton for the first out. Eaton threw the ball to first baseman José Abreu, who tagged baserunner Ian Desmond after he overran first base into foul territory while attempting to tag up, for the second out. Abreu then threw the ball to catcher Dioner Navarro at home. Adrián Beltré, the runner on second base, had tagged up earlier in the play and had started advancing to third; however, Prince Fielder, the runner on third base, was still at third. Navarro threw to shortstop Tyler Saladino, making Beltré continue his run towards third, which in turn made Fielder start to run towards home. Fielder was then caught in a rundown; Saladino threw to Navarro, who then threw to third baseman Todd Frazier, who tagged Fielder for the third out. The play was scored 9-3-2-6-2-5.
• On July 29, 2016, in a game between the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants, the Giants loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 8th inning. Brandon Crawford hit a line drive that was caught by Nationals' first baseman Ryan Zimmerman for the first out. Zimmerman then touched first base before Buster Posey could tag up, for the second out. Zimmerman then threw to third baseman Anthony Rendon, who stepped on third before Denard Span could tag up, for the third out. It was the first 3-3-5 triple play in MLB history.
• On August 16, 2018, in a game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers, the Angels loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the 4th inning. David Fletcher hit a grounder that was fielded by Rangers' third baseman Jurickson Profar, who had knocked down the ball with his body prior to picking it up. Profar stepped on third base to force out Eric Young Jr. for the first out, then tagged out Taylor Ward at third base once Ward fell off the bag for the second out, before throwing to second baseman Rougned Odor, who stepped on second to force out Kole Calhoun for the third out, leaving Fletcher stranded at first. The play, scored a 5-5-4 fielder's choice, is the first 5-5-4 triple play of any kind since St. Louis Browns third baseman Owen Friend and second baseman Snuffy Stirnweiss turned the feat in 1950, and the first triple play fielder's choice in the live-ball era of MLB.

  Historical totals

Baserunners

Outs

Cultural references