I am looking at about page 6 of the rulebook. The rule book is found here: https://baseballmaine.com/go/2025Rules and is also attached to this email for your convenience.
I am aware that there has been some confusion, and some are not using the rules correctly. Here is some clarification that the umpires and coaches should be aware of.
1. Rule: Courtesy Runners. Departments may use the courtesy runner rule for their respective American Legion Baseball program during regular season only: “Teams have the option to use a courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher at any time. The umpire-in-chief shall record courtesy runner participation and announce it to the official scorer. For speed-up purposes, it is recommended that the courtesy runner be used with two men out in all games. The courtesy runner for the pitcher and/or catcher must be a player that is on the bench, not currently in the lineup, (including DH and EH Positions) and a player removed from the game may not be used as a courtesy runner. Should the courtesy runner pinch hit, pinch run or enter the game at any position, he will no longer be eligible to be a courtesy runner
Interpretation: A courtesy runner can be used for pitchers and catchers only. The umpire lets the official scorer know that a courtesy runner is being used. The courtesy runner must be a bench player that has not entered the game. Once a player enters the game, he may not be used as a courtesy runner.
2. Re-entry Rule. Departments may use the following re-entry rule for their respective department baseball program during regular season play only: “Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-enter once, including a player who was the designated hitter, provided such player occupies the same batting position whenever he is in the lineup. A substitute who is withdrawn may NOT re-enter.”
Interpretation: Starters may re-enter the game one time. Subs may not re-enter after they are removed from the game.
3. Free Defensive Substitution – During the Regular Season ONLY, Teams may use free substitution on defense, but the batting order shall remain the same. The “Defensive” team may substitute freely any fielding position player(s), other than the pitcher, with any player never appearing in the batting lineup to play a defensive position. If a player enters the batting lineup the player is no longer eligible for free defensive substitution, and is treated as all other players that have entered the game. If a player has had an at bat and has been removed from the batting order, then that player is also no longer eligible to play defense, bat or be a courtesy runner for the remainder of the game. Once a defensive team has taken the field and a pitch has been thrown starting that half inning, then that team may no longer enter non batting lineup players as a defensive substitutions. The defensive team that is using the “Free Defensive Substitution” rule MUST notify the opposing team’s scorekeeper of any defensive substitutions and clarify whether it is a lineup change or a “Free Defensive Substitution” before a pitch is thrown starting that half inning. If the defensive team fails to notify the opposing team’s scorekeeper of a change, upon discovery, that player will immediately be recorded as a lineup change, said player will occupy the spot in the lineup that coincides with the current player of the same fielding position, and Free Defensive Substitution will terminate for the remainder of the game for the offending team (All Free Defensive Substitutes for the offending team that are still on the field will need to be removed from defensive positions as Free Defensive Substitutes at the end of the offending teams half inning of defensive play).
Interpretation: Teams may use defensive substitutions. If a team chooses to use the defensive substitution, the coach must notify the opposing team’s scorekeeper and state that the player is being used as a “free defensive sub”. The coach must declare this before the pitch is thrown that inning. If the opposing team is not notified before a pitch is thrown that inning, then the player will be treated as a regular sub.
The defensive substitution may play the field for a starter, but he may not enter the batting order. If he enters the batting order, he now becomes a regular substitute. If the starter re-enters the game on defense or in the batting order, the substitute is no longer eligible to play in the game (standard sub-re-entry rules).