Which statement about obstruction is correct?

• A. The ball is delayed dead.
• B. Obstruction is declared when a fielder without the ball simulates a tag on a runner.
• C. Obstruction occurs when a fielder without possession of the ball denies access to the base the runner is attempting to achieve.
• D. All the above.

Answer: (D)

Obstruction happens when a fielder who does not have possession of the ball hinders a baserunner who is trying to reach a base. In this situation the play is treated as a delayed dead ball: the umpire awards to the runner the base they would have reached if the obstruction had not occurred, and the ball is dead when the obstruction is called.

A common example is a fielder without the ball simulating a tag on a runner. That action interferes with the runner’s motion and is clearly obstruction. Another standard scenario is a fielder without possession of the ball denying access to the base the runner is attempting to reach; that also hinders the runner and is obstruction.

So all of these illustrate obstruction correctly: the ball’s status is the delayed dead ball, and the scenarios described are valid examples of obstruction.