Man on 3rd. Contact play with a fly ball. A tough read.

When a runner gets to 3B with the contact play on, there is certainly no guarantee the ball will be hit on the ground. If the ball is hit in the air, the runner at 3B has a very difficult read.

The contact play is a very aggressive baserunning read at 3B. It is usually given with 1 out with the hope of scoring on a ground ball. The reason it's so aggressive is the batter literally crosses over once the ball is hit. His hope is that the ball is hit on the ground so he has a big jump on the play at home plate.

Sometimes, however, the ball is hit in the air. Now, if the ball is deep enough, the baserunner should have plenty of time to get back negating the initial aggressive movement home. But, if the ball is hit hard enough and directly at an outfielder the runner at 3B has a very challenging read. Here is what he must do.

He must cross over once the ball is hit, hit the brakes as soon as he recognizes that the ball has some lift to it. He then needs to sprint back to the bag to tag. This getting back to the bag could occur simultaneusly with the outfielder catching the ball. Once the ball is caught then he races home.

It's a lot happening in a very brief amount of time.

It seems easy enough but when amateur players practice the contact play they sometimes neglect the idea that they might have to scamper back to 3B very, very quickly if the ball is hit in the air.