What happens to a foul fly ball if it caroms off a fielder and is caught by another fielder?

When a foul fly ball strikes a fielder and is subsequently caught by another fielder, the ball remains live and in play. This is because the initial contact with the fielder does not change the status of the ball; it is still considered a foul. If the ball is then caught by another fielder before it touches the ground, it is treated similarly to any caught ball, leading to the batter being out.

In baseball, the key distinction is how the ball is handled after it enters play. The rule encompasses various scenarios involving a fielder's ability to catch a ball, whether fair or foul. In this case, the catching of a foul ball, regardless of the initial contact with a fielder, allows the defensive team to record an out while ensuring the ball’s status as live throughout the event. Thus, this contextual understanding reinforces why the play is active rather than dead, emphasizing the dynamics of fielding plays in the game.