Who is the cutoff or relay in baseball?

A cutoff handles a throw that can reach the target but may need to be stopped or redirected. A relay adds another arm on a deep ball.

Rundown's 10U-14U baseball system assigns cutoffs by target and relays by ball side:

• Throw home from left field: third baseman is the cutoff.
• Throw home from center or right field: first baseman is the cutoff.
• Throw to third from any outfield position: shortstop is the cutoff.
• Deep ball to left or left-center: shortstop is the front relay and second baseman trails.
• Deep ball to right or right-center: second baseman is the front relay and shortstop trails.
• On a deep corner ball, the middle infielder can relay to the corner infielder who is lined up for home.
• On a throw home, the catcher lines up the throw and makes the call. The pitcher backs up the plate.

Those are defensive assignments, not playing rules. A team can use another sound system. Every player still needs to know the target, the front link, the trail support, and the backup before the throw starts.

Baseball cutoff and relay assignments by situation

Situation	Target	Rundown assignment	Call and backup	Rule or convention?
Routine single to left or left-center with no urgent lead-runner play	Second base	Shortstop is the ball-side link; second baseman covers the bag	Outfielder throws through the shortstop; second baseman owns the target	Convention
Routine single to right or right-center with no urgent lead-runner play	Second base	Second baseman is the ball-side link; shortstop covers the bag	Outfielder throws through the second baseman; shortstop owns the target	Convention
Single to left with a runner from second trying to score	Home	Third baseman is the cutoff	Catcher lines the throw and calls; pitcher backs up home	Convention
Single to center or right with a runner from second trying to score	Home	First baseman is the cutoff	Catcher lines the throw and calls; pitcher backs up home	Convention
Single to any outfield position with a runner from first trying for third	Third base	Shortstop is the cutoff	Third baseman owns the target call; pitcher backs up third	Convention
Deep ball to left or left-center	Called target	Shortstop is the front relay; second baseman trails	Front relay shows a target and gets in line; trail player supports the next throw	Convention
Deep ball to right or right-center	Called target	Second baseman is the front relay; shortstop trails	Front relay shows a target and gets in line; trail player supports the next throw	Convention
Deep ball down the left-field line, play at third	Third base	Shortstop is the front relay; second baseman trails; third baseman holds the bag	Third baseman calls the target; pitcher backs up third	Convention
Deep ball down the right-field line, play at home	Home	Second baseman is the front relay; first baseman is the final cutoff	Catcher owns the call; pitcher backs up home	Convention
Caught fly with a runner tagging from third	Home	Use the same home cutoff assignment for the ball's field side	Catcher lines and calls; pitcher backs up home	Rule plus convention
Off-line throw toward home	Home	The assigned cutoff intercepts the throw without waiting for a call	Catcher still directs an on-line throw	Convention
Lead runner will score before the throw arrives	Next threatened base	Catcher or target fielder redirects the cutoff or relay to control the trail runner	Call the base early; do not chase a finished play	Convention

The first two rows describe a ball-side link that may become a cutoff or a relay depending on depth. The target and the ball's depth decide the final job.

What the rulebook decides

A runner can leave on first touch of a fly ball

The 2026 Official Baseball Rules state that runners may leave their bases when the first fielder touches the fly ball. If the ball is caught, a runner who left early must retouch. Failure to retouch is an appeal play under Rules 5.09(b)(5) and 5.09(c)(1).

The defense still uses its normal cutoff or relay alignment on the throw after the catch.

A throw out of play can award two bases

Under Official Baseball Rule 5.06(b)(4)(G), a thrown ball that enters specified dead-ball territory carries a two-base award. The reference time matters. The first play by an infielder generally uses the runners' positions at the time of the pitch. Other throws generally use their positions when the throw left the fielder's hand. The rule includes an exception when every runner, including the batter-runner, has already advanced at least one base before that first infielder throw.

This is an out-of-play rule. A bad throw that remains live does not create the same automatic award. Local youth codes can use different award language, so confirm the code for that game.

A cutoff or relay cannot obstruct a runner

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h) governs obstruction. A defender should find the throw line without impeding a runner while not in possession of the ball or not in the act of fielding it. The 2026 rules also address how a catcher without the ball may set up for a possible play at the plate.

Use the local youth collision and slide rules. They can differ from the professional code.

The rulebook does not name the cutoff

The Official Baseball Rules govern catches, appeals, base awards, obstruction, and live or dead balls. They do not assign the shortstop, second baseman, first baseman, or third baseman as the cutoff. Those assignments come from the team's defensive system.

What the coaching staff decides

Cutoffs go by target

Rundown assigns a cutoff according to the base receiving the throw:

• Third base: shortstop.
• Home from left field: third baseman.
• Home from center or right field: first baseman.

The cutoff lines up between the outfielder and the target. On a throw home, the catcher can see the runner and the ball, so the catcher gives the through, cut, or redirect call using the team's vocabulary. The cutoff independently takes an off-line throw that will not reach the catcher cleanly.

Deep relays go by field side

On a deep ball that needs another arm, the ball-side middle infielder goes out as the front relay and the other middle infielder trails:

• Left and left-center: shortstop goes out, second baseman trails.
• Right and right-center: second baseman goes out, shortstop trails.

The trailer stays on the same throw line at a different depth. That player is insurance for a skipped, short, or high throw and can call the final base before the front relay receives the ball.

The front relay shows both hands, gets in line, and begins opening toward the next throw. Catching with two hands and moving toward the target supports a quicker transfer.

A deep ball can need both a relay and a cutoff

On a deep ball down the right-field line with a play at home, Rundown sends the second baseman out as the relay and uses the first baseman as the final cutoff. On a deep left-side ball, the shortstop is the front relay. If the final target switches to home, the third baseman can leave the bag for the home cutoff only when the play no longer needs third covered.

The runner positions decide whether the corner infielder stays on a base or joins the throw chain. Make that target call early.

The target player controls the decision

On a throw home, the catcher owns the call because the catcher faces the play. On a throw to another base, the player covering that base owns the call. If the lead runner is already safe, redirect the ball to control the trail runner instead of sending every throw toward the plate.

Age the teaching

USA Baseball's 12U national-team coaching discussion identifies cuts and relays as part of what players at that age are learning. The American Sport Education Program's youth baseball material also recommends extra relay help for younger teams when the throw cannot cover the distance.

Rundown's coaching progression is:

• 10U: Move on every outfield ball. Use one visible link, one target, and one loud call. Get routine outfield balls back toward second.
• 12U: Add the difference between a cutoff and a deep relay. Teach the left-side and right-side assignments plus the catcher call.
• 14U: Add tandem relays, the relay-to-cutoff chain on deep corner balls, late redirects, tag-up reads, and first-to-third decisions.

Add the next layer after the first assignment works at game speed.

A 12-minute cutoff and relay block

1. Put an outfielder, middle infielder, and target in one line. Make four throws from each outfield side. The infielder shows both hands and opens toward the target.
2. Add both middle infielders. Call left, left-center, right-center, or right before eight reps. The ball-side player goes out and the other trails on the same line.
3. Add a target call of second, third, or home before eight more reps. Players must name the target and move to the Rundown assignment.
4. Add the first or third baseman as the final home cutoff on six deep corner-ball reps.
5. Finish with a catcher and one runner for six live reads. The catcher calls through, cut, or a redirect base using the team's own vocabulary.

Score the rep only when the throw, target, front link, trail support, and backup are covered.

Quick answers

What is the difference between a cutoff and a relay in baseball?

A cutoff handles a throw that can reach the target but may need to be stopped or redirected. A relay adds another arm on a deep ball. In Rundown's system, cutoffs go by target and deep relays go by field side.

Who is the cutoff on a throw home from left field?

The third baseman in Rundown's system. The catcher lines up the throw and makes the call. The pitcher backs up the plate.

Who is the cutoff on a throw home from center or right field?

The first baseman in Rundown's system. The catcher makes the home call and the pitcher backs up the plate.

Who is the cutoff on a throw to third?

The shortstop in Rundown's system, regardless of which outfielder fields the ball. The third baseman covers the target and owns the call.

Who is the relay on a ball in the right-center gap?

The second baseman is the front relay in Rundown's system, and the shortstop trails. On a left-center ball, those jobs reverse.

Who makes the cut call on a throw home?

The catcher. The catcher faces the play and can judge the runner and the throw. The cutoff still intercepts an off-line throw without waiting.

Where should the throw go when there is no play on the lead runner?

Use the team's early call to control the next threatened base. Second base is a sound default when there is no better live play, but the runner positions and the called defense decide the target.

Put the call into a game situation

Practice baseball cutoff and relay decisions in Rundown's free IQ Game preview. Players see the runners, outs, and ball location before making the call.

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