What is the infield fly rule intended to prevent?

• A. A strikeout on a pop fly.
• B. An automatic out on a pop fly.
• C. An unfair double or triple play on a routine pop fly in the infield.
• D. A foul ball.

Answer: (C)

The rule exists to prevent an unfair double or triple play on a routine infield pop-up. When there are runners on first and second or bases loaded with fewer than two outs, and the ball is a fair fly ball that could be caught with ordinary effort by an infielder, the umpire calls the infield fly. The batter is out automatically, regardless of whether the ball is caught, and the runners may advance at their own risk. This stops the defense from letting a pop-up drop on purpose to force multiple outs. The other options don’t capture this protective purpose: it’s not about a strikeout on a pop fly, and while the batter is out under this rule, the key idea is preventing an unfair double or triple play, not simply creating an automatic out in any pop-fly situation, and a foul ball is unrelated.