A baserunner is said to be in jeopardy whenever the ball is live and he is not touching a base, unless he overran first base on a fair ball or is advancing to a base he was awarded, e.g., on a base on balls or hit batsman. A baserunner who is in jeopardy may be tagged out by a fielder at any time while in jeopardy.

A baserunner is also in jeopardy, regardless of whether or not he is touching a base, if the ball is live and any of the following conditions apply:

• He is touching a base that he was forced to vacate, i.e., if his teammate hits a fair ball;
• He failed to tag up on a caught fly ball;
• He failed to touch a base when he last passed it, or failed to touch the bases in order; or
• He is touching a base that a preceding baserunner is also touching.