Adding Context to the Concept of the Triple Play

To help those not familiar with baseball or the concept of a triple play, here is a brief discussion about what constitutes a triple play.

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 716 triple plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1876, an average of approximately five per season – because they depend on a combination of two elements, which are themselves uncommon:

First, there must be at least two baserunners, and no outs. From analysis of all MLB games 2011–2013, only 1.51% of at bats occur in such a scenario. By comparison, 27.06% of at bats occur with at least one baserunner and less than two outs, the scenario where a double play is possible.

Second, activity must occur during the play that enables the defense to make three outs. Common events – such as the batter striking out, or hitting a fly ball – do not normally provide opportunity for a triple play. A ball hit sharply and directly to an infielder, who then takes very quick action – or unusual action, confusion, or mistakes by the baserunners – is usually needed.

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:

5-4-3 triple play

The batter hits a ground ball to the third baseman, who steps on third base to force out the runner coming from second (first out). The third baseman throws to the second baseman, who steps on second base to force out the runner coming from first (second out). The second baseman throws to the first baseman, with the throw arriving in time to force out the batter (third out). This is an example of grounding into a 5-4-3 triple play, per standard baseball positions.

During the 1973 season, Baltimore Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson started two such 5-4-3 triple plays; one on July 7 against the Oakland Athletics, and one on September 20 against the Detroit Tigers.

On July 17, 1990, the Minnesota Twins became the first (and to date, the only) team in MLB history to turn two triple plays in the same game. Both were 5-4-3 triple plays, executed by fielders Gary Gaetti, Al Newman, and Kent Hrbek in a game against the Boston Red Sox.

Brooks Robinson is the all-time MLB leader for grounding into triple plays, with four in his career.

4-6-3 triple play

The baserunners start running in an attempt to steal or execute a hit and run play, and the batter hits a line drive to the second baseman, who catches it (first out). The second baseman throws to the shortstop, who steps on second base before the runner who started there can tag up (second out). The shortstop throws to the first baseman, who steps on first base before the runner who started there can tag up (third out). This is an example of lining out into a 4-6-3 triple play.

Most Recent MLB Triple Play

The most recent triple play in MLB was turned by the Detroit Tigers on September 8, 2017, against the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second, Kevin Pillar hit a sharp grounder that was fielded by Jeimer Candelario, who stepped on third (one out). Candelario threw the ball to second baseman Ian Kinsler (two outs), who then threw to first baseman Efren Navarro (three outs), completing the 5-4-3 triple play.