When a batter hit by a pitch doesn’t get first base
A batter who gets hit doesn't get first if the pitch was in the strike zone, if he didn't try to get out of the way, or if he swung at it. And no, the hands are not part of the bat.
I’m a big believer in wearing a pitch. But there are three times getting hit doesn’t get you anything. We should make sure every player who wears one knows them.
The first is a pitch in the strike zone. If the pitch was in the zone when it hit him, it’s a strike rather than a hit by pitch. It doesn’t happen often. When it does, it’s usually a batter crowding the plate on an inside strike. He gets plunked, and he gets a strike for it.
The second is a batter who didn’t try to get out of the way. The rule says the batter has to make an attempt to avoid being touched. If he freezes and takes it, most umpires will give him the base. If he leans into it or sticks an elbow out, the umpire can call it a ball and keep him at the plate.
Wearing a pitch means turning away and letting it hit your back or your butt.
Leaning in to get hit is something else, and a good umpire will see it.
The third is a swing. A pitch that hits him mid-swing is a strike. The ball is dead, runners go back and he doesn’t get a base. If it was strike three, he’s out.
Where do the hands come in? If the pitch hits his hands while he’s swinging, it’s a strike because he swung — not because “the hands are part of the bat.” They aren’t. The hands are part of the batter. A pitch that hits his hands when he’s NOT swinging is a hit by pitch, the same as if it hit his elbow.
And if the pitch hits the bat, knob included, it’s a batted ball. It’s foul if it goes foul and fair if it goes fair, swing or no swing. If it’s not clear whether it got the hand or the bat first, most umpires give the batter the base.
Which rulebook? Official Baseball Rules 5.05(b)(2) and the definition of a strike: a pitch that touches the batter as he swings is a strike. NFHS and Little League have the same three cases. The hands are part of the batter in every rulebook, so a pitch that hits them without a swing is a hit by pitch. Most youth umpires are lenient on the avoidance part unless the batter clearly leans into the pitch.
A pitch in the strike zone hits the batter on the hands as he tries to get out of the way. What’s the ruling?
Still have a question? Ask Coach Fungo.
“Turn away and take it on the back, but don't stick your elbow out looking for it.”
Who’s out when two runners are on the same base?
The runner who got there second is out when tagged, unless the lead runner was forced, and then it's the lead runner. A smart fielder can get two outs out of it.
“Tag them both and let the umpire sort it out.”
Is it a home run if it goes off the outfielder’s glove?
If the ball was still in flight when it hit him and it went over in fair territory, it's a home run. If it went over in foul territory, or it hit the ground or the wall first, it's two bases.
“If it never touched the ground or the wall, it's still a fly ball when it goes over.”
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