A pinch-runner replaces a player; a courtesy runner does not.

The rulesets used on this page

The primary baseline is the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, Official Baseball Rules, 2025 Edition. Its foreword says the code governs MLB clubs and the professional development league system operated by MLB. The 2025 edition remained the edition reached through MLB's current Official Rules link when this page was checked on 26 August 2026.

The amateur comparison is limited to Little League International's 2026 baseball rules, especially regular-season Rules 3.04 and 7.14 and Tournament Rule 3(d). Little League terminology must not be imported into NCAA, NFHS, independent youth, travel-ball or local-league games. Those competitions need their own current rulebook and any adopted local options.

Ask whether the runner is a substitute

A pinch-runner is a substitute whose immediate job is to run for an offensive player. Under MLB OBR 5.10(a), the substitute bats in the replaced player's position in the batting order. The role is not temporary: Rule 5.10(d) bars the removed player from re-entering.

A courtesy runner is different only because a particular ruleset says the runner does not make an ordinary substitution. The creating rule decides who can run, for whom, when, how often, and whether the original player stays in the lineup. Without that written exception, calling someone a courtesy runner does not avoid substitution consequences.

How to rule a proposed runner change

1. Name the competition and edition. Do not begin with what another league permits.
2. Identify the proposed runner. Is the player on the bench, already in the batting order, or previously removed?
3. Identify the requested mechanism. Ordinary substitution, courtesy runner, special pinch-runner, injury procedure and automatic extra-inning runner are different rules.
4. Apply the trigger. Check dead-ball timing, outs, protected positions, lineup status and use limits.
5. Record the lineup effect. Decide whether the original runner is removed, remains eligible under a special rule, or must return because the request is illegal.
6. Check what happened before discovery. Some rules preserve completed play and correct the lineup; they do not automatically erase a run or declare an out.

The change is made while the ball is dead

MLB OBR 5.10(a) permits a substitution while the ball is dead. Rule 5.10(b) requires the manager to notify the umpire-in-chief immediately and give the substitute's batting-order position; Rule 5.10(c) then requires the umpire-in-chief to announce the substitution.

The substitute occupies the replaced player's lineup spot. After the baserunning assignment ends, the pinch-runner can remain in that spot and later bat or play a legal defensive position, or the club can spend another substitute on that same spot. The original runner cannot resume any role in the game.

Rule 5.10(e) closes all three routes

MLB OBR 5.10(e) and its Comment prevent a courtesy-runner workaround:

• A player already named in the batting order cannot become a substitute runner for a teammate.
• A player who appeared and was then removed cannot return to run.
• A bench player not in the lineup who is used as a runner is treated as a substitute.

That is why the MLB answer is not merely “courtesy runners are uncommon.” The rule deliberately eliminates that practice. A club wanting more speed must make an ordinary pinch-running substitution and accept the permanent lineup change.

Failure to report does not make the runner temporary

Reporting the move is required, but MLB OBR 5.10(j)(4) also covers an unannounced runner. The substitute is considered to have entered when taking the replaced runner's place. A play made by or on that unannounced substitute is legal.

The practical result is important: a manager cannot later say the player was “only running” because the announcement was missed. The bench player became the substitute by taking the base, the previous runner was replaced, and the completed play is not cancelled merely because the scorer or umpire learned the name late.

Completed play can count even though the lineup is corrected

If a removed MLB player returns, OBR 5.10(d) tells the umpire to remove that player as soon as the improper presence is noticed. If correction occurs before play begins, the proper substitute may enter. If play has already begun with the removed player back in the game, the play counts; the rule also removes the improper returning player and can make the substitute unavailable to re-enter. The umpire may eject the manager if the re-entry was knowing.

This is not an appeal play that automatically produces an out. The time of discovery changes the lineup remedy, while the action already completed remains valid under the rule.

A pinch-runner for the DH becomes the DH

MLB OBR 5.11(a)(6) permits a runner to replace the designated hitter. The incoming runner assumes the DH role and remains locked into that batting-order position; the replaced DH cannot return. The existing DH cannot simply pinch-run for a teammate elsewhere in the order.

The two-way starting pitcher/DH provisions in Rule 5.11(b) can preserve the player's separate pitching role when the DH role is replaced. That exception concerns the dual-role starter's status; it does not turn the incoming pinch-runner into a courtesy runner.

An injury does not create a free MLB runner

If an MLB runner cannot continue because of injury or illness, the club still needs an eligible substitute. The replacement becomes a normal substitute under Rule 5.10, and the injured player is removed from the game. Rule 5.10(d) gives a non-pitcher replacing an injured player warm-up throws, but it does not preserve the injured player's lineup status.

Amateur codes may use separate injury, blood, concussion or continuous-order procedures. Those should be applied by their own wording, not described as an MLB courtesy runner.

The courtesy option has a narrow two-out trigger

For 2026 Little League regular-season baseball, Rule 3.04 permits a local league to adopt a courtesy-runner option for the pitcher and/or catcher of record when there are two outs. Little League's official interpretation says “of record” means the player who held that position at the end of the preceding defensive half-inning—not someone the manager plans to use there next inning.

With a continuous batting order, the courtesy runner is the player in the order who made the last out. The courtesy move does not remove the pitcher or catcher from the lineup. If the local league did not adopt the option, or if the game has fewer than two outs, the courtesy request is unavailable.

Continuous-order tournaments specify the runner

Under Little League's 2026 Tournament Rule 3(d), the 8- to 10-Year-Old, 9- to 11-Year-Old, Little League, Intermediate (50/70) and Junior League divisions may courtesy-run for the pitcher and/or catcher of record with two outs. Those divisions use a continuous batting order, and the runner must be the player in the order who made the last out.

The 2026 Approved Rulings add two boundary rules. The offense cannot skip the required last-out player merely because that player is the pitcher or catcher of record. If both the pitcher and catcher are on base, two courtesy runners may be used; the one due to bat sooner is placed on the base closer to scoring.

Little League uses a third, distinct mechanism

Little League regular-season Rule 7.14 allows a special pinch-runner when the team is not using a continuous batting order. Once per inning, a player not in the batting order may run for any offensive player. The same original player may be removed for a special pinch-runner only once in the game, but is not removed from the lineup by that move.

This is not an ordinary MLB-style pinch-runner and is not the two-out pitcher/catcher courtesy option. In 2026 Little League tournament play, continuous-order divisions use the courtesy-runner provision instead. Senior League uses a special pinch-runner up to twice per game, no more than once in an inning; the player being run for may receive that treatment only once.

Stop an ineligible request; correct an improper special runner

Little League's official runner FAQ says the plate umpire should disallow a courtesy-runner request made with fewer than two outs or for someone other than the pitcher or catcher of record. The manager's label does not make the runner eligible.

For an improper special pinch-runner already used under Rule 7.14—for example, the same offensive player is specially run for a second time—Little League's published ruling calls time, returns the proper player to the base and assesses no additional penalty. This remedy is ruleset-specific; it should not be projected onto NFHS, NCAA or another tournament code.

A faster bench player replaces the No. 7 hitter

Situation: the No. 7 hitter singles in the eighth inning. During the dead ball, the manager reports a bench player to run at first base.

MLB OBR 2025 ruling: this is a pinch-running substitution under Rule 5.10(a). The No. 7 hitter is out of the game; the new runner owns the No. 7 batting-order spot and may later bat or play defense there. Speed alone creates no courtesy-runner exception.

The manager never reports the new runner

Situation: a bench player takes the runner's place at second without an announcement, then scores on a double.

MLB OBR 2025 ruling: Rule 5.10(j)(4) recognizes the player as an entered substitute on taking the base, and action involving an unannounced substitute is legal. The run is not erased for the reporting failure. The original runner was replaced and cannot return.

A runner is sent in for the designated hitter

Situation: the DH reaches first in the sixth inning and a bench player replaces the DH to run.

MLB OBR 2025 ruling: under Rule 5.11(a)(6), the pinch-runner becomes the DH in the same batting-order spot. The original DH is removed. The incoming runner does not need to take a defensive position to remain in the game.

The catcher reaches with one out

Situation: in a 2026 Little League regular-season game whose local league adopted the courtesy option, the catcher of record reaches first with one out.

Little League 2026 ruling: no courtesy runner yet. Rule 3.04 makes two outs a condition of the option. The team must leave the catcher on base or use another runner mechanism that is legal for that lineup format.

Pitcher and catcher are both on base

Situation: in a 2026 Little League tournament division using the continuous order, the catcher of record is on third and the pitcher of record is on second with two outs. The first-out player is due to bat before the second-out player.

Little League 2026 ruling: Tournament Rule 3(d) A.R. 2 permits courtesy runners for both. The first-out player, who bats sooner, runs at third because it is closer to scoring; the second-out player runs at second. The decisive facts are the two-out count, both runners' “of record” status and batting-order sequence.

Terms that should not be collapsed

• “Pinch-runners are temporary.” Not under MLB OBR 2025; the original player is removed.
• “A missed announcement means no substitution.” MLB recognizes the runner's entry by taking the replaced runner's place.
• “Catchers always get courtesy runners.” Little League requires two outs and the relevant regular-season option or tournament rule; MLB has no such option.
• “The next inning's planned catcher qualifies.” Little League uses the catcher or pitcher of record from the preceding defensive half-inning.
• “Courtesy runner and special pinch-runner mean the same thing.” Little League gives them different eligible players, triggers and use limits.
• “Little League rules describe all youth baseball.” They do not govern NFHS, travel-ball or independent tournament play.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• Office of the Commissioner of Baseball — Official Baseball Rules, 2025 Edition, Rules 5.10(a)–(e), 5.10(j) and 5.11(a)(6)
• Little League International — 2026 Rule Changes and Clarifications, Rules 3.04, 7.14(b) and Tournament Rule 3(d)
• Little League International — 2026 Baseball Tournament Playing Rules, Rule 3(d), Approved Rulings 1–2, and Rule 10
• Little League International — Runner FAQs, courtesy-runner eligibility and enforcement
• Little League International — Rule 7.14 special pinch-runner interpretation and correction

Checked on 26 August 2026 against MLB's current Official Rules link, which serves the 2025 OBR, and Little League International's 2026 updates and tournament rules. Little League regular-season courtesy running remains a local option. NFHS, NCAA, travel-ball and other competition regulations may use different eligibility, re-entry and enforcement rules.