What is the ruling if Harty leaves the game and is inserted as a courtesy runner in a later inning?

In baseball and softball, a player who has been removed from the game is not allowed to return to play in a manner that disrupts the game's flow or violates the rules governing substitutions. When Harty leaves the game, they are considered an official substitute, and once substituted out, a player is not permitted to come back into the game as a courtesy runner or in any other capacity.

This ruling is based on the fundamental principle of maintaining fairness and integrity within the game. Allowing a player who has already left the field to re-enter in a different role could give an unfair advantage, leading to potential confusion regarding the roster and player availability.

Thus, the action of inserting Harty as a courtesy runner after having left the game constitutes an illegal action. It violates substitution rules and is why this option correctly identifies the nature of the ruling.