What is a Sacrifice Fly in Baseball
A sacrifice fly is a fly ball out that scores a run when a baserunner tags up and scores from third base after the catch, and does not count against the batter's batting average.
A sacrifice fly (SF) is a batted ball — specifically a fly ball or line drive caught by an outfielder — that scores a run because a baserunner on third base tags up and successfully scores after the catch. The batter is credited with an RBI (run batted in) and the at-bat does not count against the batter's batting average, because the batter intentionally sacrificed themselves to drive in a run.
How a Sacrifice Fly Works
- There must be a runner on third base (and fewer than two outs)
- The batter hits a fly ball to the outfield deep enough for the runner to score
- The outfielder catches the ball for an out
- The runner on third tags up (waits on the base until the ball is caught), then sprints home
- The runner scores before being thrown out at the plate
Key Rules
- The batter is credited with an RBI for the run scored
- The at-bat is excluded from the denominator when calculating batting average (like a walk)
- However, it does not count toward a batter's on-base percentage (unlike a walk)
- There is no sacrifice fly if the runner is thrown out at the plate — it becomes an at-bat with a fielder's choice
- Only one run needs to score for it to be a sacrifice fly; additional runners advancing is irrelevant to the official scoring
Sacrifice Fly vs. Sacrifice Bunt
| Sacrifice Fly | Sacrifice Bunt | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Fly ball out, runner tags from 3rd | Ground ball bunt, runner advances |
| Batter result | Out; excluded from batting average | Out; excluded from batting average |
| RBI credited? | Yes | Only if a run scores |
| Most common use | Runner on 3rd, less than 2 outs | Runner on 1st or 2nd, move runner up |
Strategic Importance
The sacrifice fly is a fundamental part of small-ball offensive strategy. A team can intentionally manufacture a run by:
- Getting a runner to third base (single + stolen base, or extra-base hit)
- Having the batter hit a deep enough fly ball to score the runner
This is especially valuable in close, low-scoring games and in late-inning situations where one run can decide the outcome.
Sacrifice Fly Leaders
The single-season record for sacrifice flies is 17, shared by Gil Hodges (1954) and Danny Valencia (2011). The career record belongs to Eddie Murray (128 career sacrifice flies).