After stepping on second base, the fielder throws to first to complete a double play

In baseball, a double play (denoted on statistics sheets by DP) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action.

The most common type of double play occurs with a runner on first base and a ground ball hit towards the middle of the diamond. A defender with the ball steps on second base before the runner from first arrives to force one out, and then throws the ball to the first baseman to force out the batter for the second out. Other types of double plays occur when fly balls are hit to the outfield and caught, but a runner on the basepaths strays too far away from his base. If the ball is thrown back to that base before the runner returns or tags up to go to the next base, the runner is out along with the batter for a double play.

The baseball statistics measures how often a player grounds into a double play in that situation.

A triple play involves three outs during the same continuous playing action.

See also

• Sacrifice fly