How Baseball Mound Visits Work Explainer
A mound visit occurs when a manager, coach, or position player goes to the mound to confer with the pitcher. Major League Baseball limits each team to four charged visits in a regulation nine-inning game, with an additional visit available for each extra inning. Several narrow exceptions do not count.
A typical visit is limited to 30 seconds, measured from the time the manager or coach leaves the dugout or the position player leaves the position. The umpire signals when time is expiring so play can resume promptly. Crossing the foul line can commit a coach to the visit.
A second charged visit to the same pitcher in the same inning requires that pitcher to be removed. Catchers therefore choose carefully when to walk out, especially after signs become crossed or the defense needs alignment instructions. Brief conversations during natural delays may be exempt only when the rules' conditions are met.
Injuries, potential foreign-substance checks, and certain equipment or sign-sequence problems can create exceptions, but the umpire decides whether the circumstances qualify. The system is designed to preserve legitimate strategy and safety while preventing repeated conferences from stretching the pace of a game.
Four charged visits in nine innings, plus one for each extra inning under the current rule.
The conference is generally limited to 30 seconds.
The pitcher must be removed from the game.
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