Triple plays

In baseball, a triple play (denoted as TP in baseball statistics) is the rare act of making three outs during the same continuous play.

Triple plays happen infrequently – there have been 715 triple plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1876 through August 27, 2017, an average of approximately 5 per season – because they depend on a combination of two elements, which are themselves uncommon.

The most likely scenario for a triple play is no outs with runners on first base and second base, which has been the case for the majority of MLB triple plays. In that context, two example triple plays are:

The most recent triple play was by the Philadelphia Phillies on August 27, 2017, against the Chicago Cubs in the top of the fifth inning. With runners on first and second, Javier Báez hit a sinking line drive into left field that was caught by Rhys Hoskins (one out). The ball came out of Hoskins' glove after he made the catch, and the baserunners did not return to their bases. Hoskins threw to second baseman César Hernández (two outs), who then threw to first baseman Tommy Joseph (three outs), completing the 7-4-3 triple play. The play was reviewed by video replay and upheld.

The rarest type of triple play, and one of the rarest events of any kind in baseball, is for a single fielder to complete all three outs. There have only been 15 unassisted triple plays in MLB history, making this feat rarer than a perfect game.

Typically, an unassisted triple play is achieved when a middle infielder catches a line drive near second base (first out), steps on the base before the runner who started there can tag up (second out), and then tags the runner advancing from first before he can return there (third out). Of the 15 unassisted triple plays in MLB history, 12 have been completed in this manner by a middle infielder.

The most recent MLB unassisted triple play is consistent with the above – it occurred on August 23, 2009, by second baseman Eric Bruntlett of the Philadelphia Phillies, in a game against the New York Mets. In the bottom of the ninth inning with men on first and second, Jeff Francoeur hit a line drive very close to second base, which Bruntlett was covering in response to the baserunners running. Bruntlett caught the ball (first out), stepped on second before Luis Castillo could tag up (second out), and then tagged Daniel Murphy who was approaching from first (third out). This was only the second game-ending unassisted triple play in MLB history, the first one having occurred in 1927.

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