Under speed-up rules, the catcher obtains a single with a courtesy runner, and later in the same half-inning the catcher draws a base on balls. Which statements are true?

• A. The catcher may run for himself.
• B. The same courtesy runner must run for him.
• C. The same courtesy runner may run for him.
• D. B and C.

Answer: (D)

Under speed-up rules, a courtesy runner is used to replace the catcher on base to keep the game moving. Once a courtesy runner is in place for the catcher, that runner continues to handle the catcher’s base-running needs for as long as that half-inning (or when the catcher must run again) and may be used again for subsequent base-running events.

In this scenario, the catcher already has a courtesy runner from the earlier single. When the catcher later draws a base on balls, the same courtesy runner is the one who runs for him on that walk. The rule allows the same courtesy runner to handle the catcher’s base-running needs again, so it’s appropriate to say that the same runner must run for him in this situation, and that the same courtesy runner may run for him again if the catcher again needs a runner later in the same half-inning. That’s why both statements apply, making the combined option the correct choice.