Batter interference on a steal attempt
If the batter steps out or moves into the catcher's throw on a steal, he's out and the runner goes back. But if the catcher throws the runner out anyway, the interference is wiped out.
The rule itself isn’t complicated. The batter can’t get in the way of the catcher’s throw or his play at the plate, whether he steps out of the box, leans across the plate, backs into the catcher or does anything else that hinders him. It doesn’t have to be on purpose, either, because intent doesn’t matter here. The penalty is an out on the batter, and any runner goes back to where he started.
Here’s an example. The runner takes off for second and the catcher comes up throwing. The batter, following the pitch with his body, steps across the plate, and the throw hits him in the back. He’s out, the runner goes back to first, and the batter didn’t mean to do a thing.
Standing still is safe. A batter who stays in the box and doesn’t move isn’t interfering, even if the throw hits him. The catcher has to throw around him, and that’s baseball. The umpire is looking for movement, not for contact.
If the catcher throws the runner out anyway, the interference is wiped out. The runner is out, the batter stays up and play goes on, because the defense doesn’t get both. This is one of the few times the defense does get two, though. If the batter struck out on the pitch and then interfered, he’s already out, and now the runner is out too (in high school, that one is the umpire’s call).
The follow-through. This is where the rulebooks split. The batter swings and misses, and the bat comes around and clips the catcher’s mitt as he’s throwing. Under pro rules, USSSA and Little League, the ball is dead and the runner goes back, but the batter isn’t out for it unless it was strike three. In high school and at Perfect Game events, that’s interference and the batter is out. Either way, the runner goes back.
Once the ball is past him, I’d tell every hitter to freeze. That means no stepping out to see the play, and no leaning over the plate to watch the throw.
What about a steal of third, or a play at the plate? Those have their own cards: the throw to third and the play at home.
Which rulebook? Official Baseball Rules 6.03(a)(3): the batter is out for interfering with the catcher's fielding or throwing, and the runners return. The exception when the runner is put out anyway is in the same rule, and the comment makes an unintentional backswing a strike only. NFHS 7-3-5 is the high school version, and it makes follow-through interference an out. On steals, USSSA and Little League play the pro rule. Perfect Game plays the NFHS rule.
Runner on first stealing. The batter follows the pitch, steps across the plate and gets in the catcher’s way. The catcher throws anyway and gets the runner at second. What’s the ruling?
Still have a question? Ask Coach Fungo.
“Stay in the box and stay still. The umpire can't call you for standing there.”
Tagging up: when can the runner leave?
The runner can leave the base the instant the ball first touches a fielder, not when the catch is finally secured. I'd teach every runner to go on that first touch.
“Be on the bag, not near it, and go the second a fielder touches the ball.”
What is a balk, actually?
The rulebook lists a dozen different balks, and the penalty for every one of them is the same: Every runner moves up one base. Under the pro rules, though, the balk is waved off if the offense does better on the play.
“At the youngest ages, I wouldn't lose my mind over balks.”
The rules quiz
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