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Originally Posted by Dan Loudin
where is rule in book
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Off the top of my head, I'm not sure there is a specific rule (or, maybe a case play) that says "a bounced pitch remains live and may be legally batted". If there is, someone will definitely post it.
But I am positive that there is no rule that says "a bounced pitch is dead and may not be legally batted". So don't bother trying to find one!
You have to read a couple of other rules- the ones under rule 7 that define a "strike" or a "ball"
The rules state that a pitch bouncing before, or on, the plate is automatically a ball if the batter does not swing. It also notes that the ball remains live. A batter is always entitled to swing at a live pitch.
They also define a strike as a legal pitch swung at and missed by the batter. There's nothing there exempting a bounced pitch from either being swung at or being ruled a strike. By extension, a bounced hit may be legally batted.
A bounced pitch remains live and is treated EXACTLY the same as any other pitch, with one exception: If it bounces on or before the plate and the batter does not swing, it can never be called a strike. It can be a ball if not swung at, a strike if swung at and missed, it can hit the batter resulting in an award of first base and it can be legally batted, just like any other pitch.