In what scenario is a pop-up not considered an infield fly when it touches the ground and later hops into fair territory?

A pop-up is not considered an infield fly when it touches the ground and later hops into fair territory if an umpire believes it is not within reach of any fielder. This reflects the essence of the infield fly rule, which is designed to protect the offensive team from the defense taking advantage of a pop-up situation.

If the ball is deemed to be out of a fielder's reach, the concept of an infield fly becoming a judgment call for the umpire comes into play. The purpose of the infield fly rule is to prevent the defense from intentionally dropping the ball to create a force out or double play scenario. Therefore, if an umpire determines that no fielder has a reasonable chance to catch the ball, it will not be ruled an infield fly, and the play will be treated differently, allowing the ball to be played freely after it touches the ground.

This decision is based on observations during the game regarding player positioning and the likelihood of making a catch, which is core to the application of the infield fly rule.