The dropped third strike rule: when the batter can run

I want every player sprinting to first on every strikeout, at least until he knows this rule cold. Let’s go over the dropped third strike…

The rule itself is simple. If the catcher doesn’t catch strike three cleanly, the batter can try to reach first base. The catcher has to tag him or throw him out.

But there’s a condition. The batter can only run if first base is empty, or if there are two outs. With a runner on first and fewer than two outs, the batter is just out, dropped ball or not. Why? It stops the catcher from dropping it on purpose to get a double play.

Situation by situation, it looks like this:

• No one on first, any number of outs. The batter can run.
• Runner on first, no outs or one out. The batter is out, and he can’t run. The ball is still live, though, so runners can move up at their own risk.
• Runner on first, two outs. The batter can run, and now the runner on first is forced to second.
• Bases loaded, two outs. The batter can run, and every runner is forced. The catcher doesn’t have to throw to first. He can pick it up and step on the plate.

There’s also a point where the batter gives up the right to run. Under pro rules, he’s out once he leaves the dirt circle around the plate without trying for first. In high school, he can still go until he reaches the dugout.

What counts as “not caught” trips people up, too. The ball hits the dirt before the mitt. It bounces off the mitt. The catcher whiffs on it entirely. None of those are catches.

A pitch in the dirt is a dropped third strike even if the catcher blocks it, because he didn’t catch it in the air.

Even when the rule doesn’t apply, a sprinting batter often convinces a young catcher that he has to throw. We’ve all seen what happens next — throws to first go bad (particularly at the younger ages), and runners move up.

So get your head up and sprint. If the umpire says you’re out, you haven’t lost a thing!