What is a force play on the bases?

• A. A base runner is required to advance to the next base when the preceding runner is forced.
• B. A runner is carried to the next base by the throw
• C. A base runner may retreat safely
• D. A ball is tagged with no out

Answer: (A)

A force play on the bases happens when a runner is required to advance to the next base because the base ahead must be vacated for the batter or the preceding runner. The defense can record an out simply by touching that forced base before the runner arrives, without needing to tag the runner.

This description matches the idea that a base runner must move forward because the previous runner is forced to advance. For example, with runners on first and second and the batter puts the ball in play, the runner on first is forced to second (since the batter becomes a runner at first), and the runner on second is forced to third. The defense can throw to the next base to get the forced runner out.

The other scenarios described don’t fit a force play: a runner being carried to the next base by a throw isn’t a forced advance, a runner retreating safely isn’t a force situation, and a ball being tagged with no out refers to a tag play, not a force play.