What happens if the batter hits the catcher with his backswing?

If a batter swings and misses a ball and in the process unintentionally hits this catcher on his backswing, it shall be called a strike, and not batter interference. Batter non-interference applies as long as the batter's feet remain in the batter's box. The ball is called dead by the umpire and the play is halted.

What happens if the batter hits the catcher on a swing?

So unless the catcher jumps up and moves into the swing, if the bat hits the catcher on the follow through, it's the batter's fault. If no play is in progress when the contact occurs, there cannot be interference. The pitch is called a strike, the ball is dead and no runner shall advance on the play.

What is the penalty for backswing interference?

Backswing interference / follow-through interference

The ball is dead, and runners, if moving, must return. There is no penalty so long as deemed by umpire to be not intentional. Ball immediately dead; runners return; batter is out if impeding play on runner. If no play on runner, dead ball and runners return.

What is backswing interference?

NFHS now defines backswing interference as when a batter contacts the catcher or his equipment prior to the time of the pitch (2-21-5).

Can the batter hit the catcher?

Finally, he can commit backswing interference (also called "weak interference"). This happens when the batter swings and, on the follow through, his bat hits the catcher or the catcher's glove.

Batter Hits Catcher In Back With Swing

What happens if batter hits catchers glove?

If the batter makes contact with the catchers mitt, the offense has the option to take the result of the play or one base will be rewarded to the batter.

What is catcher's interference rule as?

This rule covers those situations where the catcher interferes with the batter's attempt to hit the ball. However, if the catcher interferes with the batter prior to the pitch being delivered, time should be called and no penalty assessed.

What happens if catcher hits batter throwing to third?

In that case play proceeds just as if no violation had been called. If the batter interferes with the catcher's throw after the batter is out on strike three, the umpire shall call “Time,” and the runner is declared out for the batter's interference. All other runners are returned to the base they previously occupied.

What happens if a batter steps on home plate?

If a batter hits a pitched ball with any part of his foot or knee outside of the batter's box, including home plate, then the batter is out.

Can a batter throw his bat at the ball?

If the batter unintentionally throws his bat and it interferes with the fielders, interference is called and the batter is out. If the batter throws his bat intentionally, the batter will be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Does fielder or runner have right of way?

The protection continues until the fielder makes a play or makes a throw after fielding the ball. From beginning to end of this sequence, the fielder has the right of way and runners must avoid impeding the fielder. Here's the rub. The rules protect only one fielder.

Can a fielder stand in the baseline?

How do I spot obstruction? - Fielders without the ball often stand on a base or in the base path. Doing so does not make them guilty of obstruction. They're not obstructing unless a runner's advance or path is altered.

Can a batter step out of the box between pitches?

Batters still can step out of the box under several conditions, including a swinging strike, wild pitch, passed ball, pickoff play or meeting at the mound. Pitch clocks will not be used in the major leagues, although they will be used in selected minor-league games.

Is catchers interference a dead ball?

When this occurs, the ball remains alive and in play unless: (1) the ball settles in foul territory; (2) the batter misses the pitch; or (3) continuous action stops if the ball is hit in fair territory. The rule allows the batter to be awarded first base and runners on base advance only if forced.

Can a batter crowd the plate?

Hitters will often crowd the plate in order to have a better swing at pitches on the outside half of the plate. The hitters hope that the pitcher will be scared to throw inside because they might hit the batter.

Can a batter switch sides during an at bat?

Unlike the pitcher, the batter can switch continuously from the left to the right side of the plate during the same at-bat. However, there is one exception: never during the pitcher's windup. If the batter switches sides during the windup, he's OUT.

Can a batter lean over the plate?

Leaning over the plate before the pitch is not prohibited by 7-3-5, which concerns batter interference with the catcher's throwing or fielding. In fact, leaning over the plate prior to the pitch is not illegal provided that the batter is legally in the box, so don't tell your pitchers to say anything to the umpire.

Can a baseball player leave the field to make a catch?

The Comment to Official Baseball Rule 5.09(a)(1) stipulates that no fielder may step into or go into a dugout to make a catch.

Can a hitter run back to home plate?

3—On a tag play between home plate and first base, a batter-runner may retreat toward home plate to evade a tag, but shall be declared out after touching or passing home plate, or leaving the base line. The ball remains live. Therefore, a runner can back up to just before he would touch home plate.

Can you use a broken bat in MLB?

Rule 6.05(h) Comment: If a bat breaks and part of it is in fair territory and is hit by a batted ball or part of it hits a runner or fielder, play shall continue and no interference called. If batted ball hits part of broken bat in foul territory, it is a foul ball.

Can a catcher balk?

Rule 5.02(a) says a catcher's balk happens when the catcher is out of position on a pitch: "Except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand."

Can catchers block plates?

The catcher is not permitted to block the runner's path to the plate unless he is in possession of the ball, though blocking the path of the runner in a legitimate attempt to receive a throw is not considered a violation. The runner can be ruled safe if the umpire determines the catcher violated this rule.

What is the penalty for a catcher's balk?

A catcher's balk is an informal phrase used to describe a catcher doing something against two specific rules which results in a penalty by the umpire. If runners are on base, then that penalty is a balk - meaning, the advancement of each runner by one base. If no runners are on base, then the penalty is a ball.

What happens if a batted ball hits a runner?

After a batted ball has been touched (deflected) by an infielder, if the ball then strikes a runner (unintentionally on the part of the runner), it is alive and in play despite the fact that another infielder may be in position to field the ball. This is not the case if a fielder is making a play on the ball.