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Ground Rules

Tropicana Field

Tropicana Field's catwalks, a series of rings that help "lift" the stadium's translucent, teflon-coated fiberglass domed roof, provide the field's unique source of ground rules

  • A batted ball that hits the catwalk, lights or suspended objects in foul territory will automatically be ruled a dead ball and it shall be called a strike.

  • A batted ball that hits a catwalk, lights or suspended objects in fair territory shall be judged fair of foul in relation to the striking point on the ground or where it is touched by the fielder. If the ball hits the catwalk, lights or suspended objects in fair territory and lands in the field in fair territory or is touched by a fielder in fair territory, it shall be judged a fair ball. If the ball strikes the catwalk, lights or suspended objects in fair territory and is caught by a fielder in fair or foul territory, then the batter is out and the base runners run at their own risk.

  • A batted ball that hits the catwalk, lights or suspended objects and remains on or in the catwalk, lights or suspended objects in foul territory is a foul ball and it shall be called a strike.

  • A batted ball that hits the catwalk, lights or suspended objects and remains on or in the catwalk, lights or suspended objects in fair territory is a fair ball and it shall be called a double.

  • A batted ball that hits either of the lower two catwalks, lights or suspended objects in fair territory is a home run.

  • Any pitched ball that lodges in the padding behind home plate - one base.

  • Any thrown ball that lodges in the padding behind home plate - two bases.