High school baseball adopts double first base: ‘Takes a collision out of the play’
The high school baseball diamond will look a little different at the start of the 2027 season.
The National Federation of State High School Associations announced Tuesday that a double first base will be required beginning then. The white portion of the base must be located in fair territory, while the colored half is outside of it. The two will be split by the first base foul line.
NFHS director of sports Elliot Hopkins termed the rule revision as “symbolic of the evolution of the sport.” Karns City baseball coach Josh Smith figured it would happen eventually, having seen how effective the double first base is in men’s fast-pitch softball leagues. It’s also used in high school softball.
“(It’s) there just to avoid contact and any injuries or anything that could happen at first base. So I knew it was coming,” Smith said. “I’m a traditional guy. I still like playing it the same way, but it’s kind of hard to fight a safety thing.”
Butler baseball coach Josh Forbes had the inkling that the change would come, too, being that Division I college baseball adopted it ahead of this past season.
“I’m probably on the same side (as Smith),” Forbes said. “Obviously, change is hard for everything, and you want to see the game that you grew up loving and playing be traditional. But it’s completely understandable. It takes a collision out of the play. Major League Baseball adapted with the bigger bases.”
Much like that move, which increased the size of bases to 18 inches square up from 15, there’s an increased focus on player safety. Collisions at first base are likely the most common in the sport.
“That’s a very common injury in high school baseball just because ... these are not professionals,” Smith said. “These are kids that work hard, try to do the best they can. Throws get away from them — and it happens. A first baseman has got to come off the bag. They’ve got to lunge, they’ve got to reach.”
Though it’s not what he’s used to on the baseball diamond, Smith is supportive of the alteration.
“I don’t think it’s that crazy,” Smith said. “You want your best players to be on the field. You don’t want them hurt by a freak injury. You know, a ball up the line, a guy has to reach, because then you’re jeopardizing two people’s safety. The runner getting tangled up in the first baseman’s arm, shoulder, elbow. ... It’s a fast-paced play at first base.”
Forbes considered how it would affect gameplay, specifically.
“There are some rules in the Division I game of where you can stand and where you can’t stand,” Forbes said. “Figuring out the new rules with that situation will be something that we’re going to have to digest and discuss with the teams.”
He guessed that a baserunner would be automatically out if he uses the base in fair ground.
According to Rule 8-2-2a, “the batter-runner should use the colored base on an initial play at first base unless a fielder is drawn into foul territory to receive a dropped third strike, in which case the batter-runner would use the white portion of the base.”
Runners are permitted to use either side of first base on a base-on-balls or extra-base hit to the outfield in which there is no chance for a play to be made at first.
Once the runner reaches first base, they must always return to the white base.
