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Just for completeness sake, a pitch that hits the ground before the catcher "catches" it is not a legal catch, by definition. If the batter swings and misses it, it is treated as a dropped third strike.
However, if that pitch hits the ground, the batter then swings and nicks it, and then the catcher catches it, it IS a caught batted ball. In this case, it would be ruled a foul tip. No different than had the batter golfed that pitch into the air and a fielder caught it in flight.
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"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
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