I think the spirt of the rule does not allow a player to complete take the ball off the ground. I think this rule is worded to allow some adjustment and slightly take the ball off the ground.
I know on the crews I have worked with over the years they would make sure they put the ball down so that the center would not have to adjust the ball. I am not an umpire but that is what my umpires have done in the past. That helps to not make that much of an issue.
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