A bobbled caught fly ball

Question
The center fielder bobbles a fly ball, the runner on second is not tagging up,  center fielder catches the ball and throws back in to second base where the runner still not has tagged up. Does the fielder have to tag the runner when they do return to the base to tag? The umpire explained that since the ball was bobbled the runner has to be tagged even though they had never tagged up or even attempted to do so.

Answer
Hi Matt,

A bobbled ball does not relieve the runner of the responsibility of tagging up on a legally caught fly ball.  They may be put out either with live ball appeal of a base left too early, a tag  OR a throwing the ball to the base before returning.

However the runner does not have to wait until the ball is caught.  They can legally leave the base when the ball is 1st touched by any defender.  Ie high sharp line drive deflects off F6's leaping glove carries into lf where F7 catches the ball.  Runners can leave as soon as F6 touched the ball.

Mark