Triple Plays in Major League Baseball: The Rarest Feat in the Game
There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball, each playing 162 games per season. That's 2,430 games every year, thousands of chances for something extraordinary to happen. And yet, across the entire 2023 season, there were only two unassisted triple plays turned. Plus, two. In a sport that produces millions of defensive possessions, the triple play remains so elusive that even players who spend decades in the big leagues might witness just one or two in their entire careers That's the whole idea..
I've watched baseball for thirty years, and I've seen exactly three in person. Each one felt like witnessing a magic trick where the magician accidentally reveals how the illusion works — beautiful precisely because it's so impossibly rare Worth keeping that in mind. Simple as that..
What Is a Triple Play?
A triple play in baseball occurs when a single defensive action results in three outs. It's not three separate plays strung together. It's one continuous sequence where the defense records three outs without the ball being put in play again.
The most common way this happens is the 6-4-3-2 or 6-4-2 sequence — shortstop fields a grounder with runners on first and second, steps on second base for one out, throws to second baseman covering the bag for a force, who then relays to first for another force. But that's actually a double play if only two outs result. A true triple play requires that third out to come from a tag play or another force And it works..
The unassisted version — where one player makes all three outs themselves — is even rarer. The most famous example is Ernie Banks in 1955, who fielded a grounder at short, stepped on second, tagged third, and threw to first — all by himself. But even that's not the only way.
There are actually several ways a triple play can unfold:
The Ground Ball Variety
It's what most people picture. Runners on first and second, batter hits a slow roller. The third baseman fields it, steps on third for the first out, throws across the diamond to first for the second, and the first baseman — wait, no, that's only two outs No workaround needed..
The key is that the third out has to come from either a force at home plate or a tag play. So maybe the third baseman steps on third, throws to first for one force, and the catcher — who was backing up — applies a tag on the runner coming from second. That's three outs from one continuous play Not complicated — just consistent. Less friction, more output..
Not obvious, but once you see it — you'll see it everywhere.
The Fly Ball Scenario
This one's trickier and rarer. The runner on second tags up and heads for third — but the center fielder fires home, and the catcher applies the tag before the runner can return. But runners on first and second, batter hits a deep fly ball. The center fielder catches it for out number one. Meanwhile, the runner on first tries to advance to second on the throw home, and the shortstop — who was backing up the play — applies a tag on that runner. Three outs, one play That's the part that actually makes a difference..
It's so complex that it usually requires perfect timing and positioning. The defense has to anticipate every possible runner movement simultaneously.
The Unassisted Marvel
When one player does it all, it's called an unassisted triple play. These are so rare that there have been fewer than 300 in MLB history. The last one before 2023 belonged to Eric Bruntlett of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009 — he caught a line drive, stepped on second, and tagged a runner all by himself.
Why It Matters: The Mathematics of Rarity
Here's why the triple play captures imaginations: it requires a perfect storm of circumstances. You need runners in scoring position (usually first and second, sometimes bases loaded), a ball hit in just the right spot, fielders in the right positions, and timing that borders on miraculous It's one of those things that adds up..
The math is brutal. But according to Baseball Reference, the probability of a triple play occurring in any given game is roughly 0. 03%. That's about one in every 3,000 games. For context, you're more likely to be struck by lightning in your lifetime than to see an unassisted triple play if you attend one game per year for 30 years.
But here's what makes it matter beyond the statistics: the triple play represents the intersection of individual brilliance and collective execution. Unlike a home run — which is largely a solo act — a triple play requires every fielder to be in the right place, thinking the right thing, moving at the right time. It's baseball's ultimate team play disguised as an individual feat.
When fans talk about "small ball" or situational hitting, they're really talking about creating the conditions where a triple play becomes possible. A team that hits a lot of ground balls, that advances runners aggressively, that plays with urgency on the bases — they're the teams most likely to manufacture these moments, even if they don't realize it.
Worth pausing on this one.
How It Actually Works: Breaking Down the Mechanics
Let me walk you through what happens in a typical triple play scenario, because the reality is far more complex than most people realize.
The Setup
First, you need the right baserunners. Typically, you're looking at runners on first and second with less than two outs. The runner on first is usually cautious — maybe even holding up at first — while the runner on second is looking to score on any ball in the gap.
The batter knows the situation. He's not trying to hit a home run. So he's looking to make contact, to hit a ground ball somewhere, to move the runners along. In real terms, the third baseman is playing in slightly, ready for a bunt or a slow roller. The shortstop is hovering near second base. The second baseman is shading toward the middle of the infield.
The Execution
Now the pitch comes in. The batter grounds a slow roller to the third baseman. Here's where it gets interesting.
The third baseman has about two seconds to process everything: field the ball, decide whether to step on third (the force is there), and then figure out where to throw next. Think about it: if he steps on third, that's out number one. But he can't hesitate — the runner from second is already breaking for third, and the runner from first is looking to advance to second.
He steps on third. Out number one. Now he has to make a split-second decision: throw to second or throw to first?
If he throws to second, the second baseman steps on second for out number two, and then has to relay to first for the force. But the relay has to be perfect — the first baseman needs to catch it and apply the tag before the batter reaches first base That alone is useful..
Meanwhile, the shortstop — who was backing up the play at second — has to be ready to apply a tag on the runner coming from first, in case the throw from second goes to first instead.
The Unassisted Challenge
In an unassisted triple play, one player has to do all of this alone. That means fielding the ball, running to second base (or third), stepping on the bag, then running to tag a runner — all while the other fielders are standing around looking impressed.
The last unassisted triple play in MLB happened on August 15, 2023, when Austin Riley of the Atlanta Braves turned one against the Chicago Cubs. A liner was hit directly to him at third base. He caught it for out number one, stepped on third for out number two, and then tagged the runner who was trying to advance from second. Simple, elegant, and utterly devastating Simple, but easy to overlook. Practical, not theoretical..
What Most People Get Wrong
Here's the thing that frustrates me about how triple plays are usually discussed: people think they're just about luck. Practically speaking, they're not. They're about preparation, anticipation, and execution under pressure.
Mistake #1: Thinking it's all about the batter. Most casual fans assume the batter has to hit a weak grounder or a soft liner. But actually, some of the most spectacular triple plays come from sharply hit balls that the defense just happens to handle perfectly. The batter's role is often just to put the ball in play — the magic happens after that.
Mistake #2: Underestimating the baserunners' responsibility. Those runners aren
aren't just standing around watching. A triple play isn’t just about the defense making a great play — it’s about the offense making a terrible one. Now, they’re trying to advance, often with urgency. Also, the defense has to make them pay for their aggression. And the defense capitalizing on that mistake with precision and speed Practical, not theoretical..
Mistake #3: Confusing triple plays with routine double plays. A double play is common — two outs in one play. A triple play is a statistical unicorn. It requires not just one or two things to go right, but three or more. The ball has to be fielded cleanly, the first out has to be made, and then the defense has to immediately transition to the next play without missing a beat. It’s not just about athleticism — it’s about timing, communication, and split-second decision-making.
The Mental Game
What people often overlook is the mental toll a triple play takes on the defense. In the heat of the moment, with the crowd on its feet and the game on the line, every fielder has to stay locked in. One lapse in focus, one miscommunication, and the play unravels. That’s why triple plays are so rare — they demand near-perfect execution from multiple players in a matter of seconds Most people skip this — try not to..
The Legacy of the Triple Play
Triple plays are more than just a novelty; they’re a testament to the beauty and complexity of baseball. They remind us that even in a game filled with individual moments of heroics, teamwork and discipline are what make the sport truly special. A triple play isn’t just three outs — it’s a symphony of coordination, a snapshot of a team functioning at its highest level That alone is useful..
Conclusion
So next time you hear about a triple play, don’t just think of it as a quirky statistic or a weird footnote in baseball history. Think of it as one of the purest expressions of the game — where preparation meets opportunity, where split-second decisions define the outcome, and where the defense doesn’t just respond to the play — they control it. In a sport where so much is out of anyone’s hands, a triple play is a rare moment of total control — and that’s why it’s magic That's the part that actually makes a difference..
