Rules

Little League Batting Rules — Continuous Batting Order & More

Little League Batting Rules

Little League Majors and below use a continuous batting order — every player on the roster bats, regardless of whether they're currently playing defense. In Juniors and above, the traditional 9-player batting order applies. These rules affect how you build your lineup, when you can substitute, and how playing time is distributed.

Batting Order by Division

Division	Batting Order Type	How It Works
Tee Ball	Continuous (all bat)	Every player bats every inning
Minor League	Continuous (all bat)	All rostered players bat in order
Major League	Continuous (all bat)	All rostered players bat in order
Intermediate (50/70)	Traditional 9-player	Only 9 players in the batting order
Juniors	Traditional 9-player	Only 9 players in the batting order

In continuous batting order divisions, if you have 12 players, all 12 bat. The batting order rotates through all 12 each time through the lineup. Players who aren't currently playing defense still bat in their order position.

Building a Batting Order Under LL Rules

With continuous batting order, every player hits — but the order still matters. Your best hitters should still be in high-leverage spots (leadoff, 3-4-5), and your developing hitters benefit from lower-pressure positions later in the order.

Rizzler's AI batting order builds lineups that account for continuous batting order rules. It optimizes the full 12-13 player lineup, not just the top 9. For age-specific lineup strategies, see the batting order guide for 11U-12U.

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Batting Out of Order

If a player bats out of order and the opposing team appeals before the next pitch, the player who should have batted is called out. If no appeal is made before the next pitch, the at-bat stands and the lineup continues from the incorrect position.

This is rare in Little League with continuous batting orders, but it happens. Using Rizzler's game planning view during the game makes batting order tracking automatic — the app shows who's up next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the batting order during the game?

No. Once submitted to the umpire, the batting order is fixed for the game. You can substitute defensive positions freely, but the batting order cannot be rearranged.

What if a player has to leave the game early?

If a player leaves a continuous batting order, their spot is simply skipped. The player is recorded as having left the game, and the lineup continues without them. No out is charged for their spot.

Does the continuous batting order count as a plate appearance for minimum play?

Yes. Every time a player comes to bat (or draws a walk, is hit by a pitch, or sacrifices), it counts toward the minimum play plate appearance requirement.

Can we use a designated hitter in Little League?

In standard Little League Majors and below with continuous batting order, there is no DH — because everyone bats. In Juniors and above, local league rules determine whether a DH is available.

Plan your lineup with Rizzler's AI batting order — built for Little League's continuous batting order rules. Try it free.