Pitcher's Hand Break?

[Rufus]

Retired coach and current baseball fan here. Was watching an MLB game the other night and the pitcher did something that looked a little hinky. R1 and pitcher engages the pitcher's plate to receive his sign. He does so, though, with his pitching hand in the glove with the ball. Before coming set he then removes his throwing hand without the ball, comes to his set position (repositioning his hand back in the glove to grasp the ball), then delivers the pitch.

It's been way too long since I've read up on balk rules (and I was far from an expert even then) but thought I recalled one of the ways to balk was once the throwing hand went into the glove the only time it could come out was during the pitch deliver or pickoff attempt.

Appreciate in advance any insight/correction you all can provide on this.

[umpjim]

In OBR the pitcher cannot take the rubber for the set position with hands together. There is no penalty in the rules and the umpire should call time and tell him not to do that. But in practice we allow pitchers in taking the rubber and getting comfortable and ready to come set there to have their hands together momentarily as long as they are then separated, and we and the runners can then see that they are not yet set.