third strike

[DG]

Originally posted by yankeesfan
with no runners on base, the batter swings at a third strike and misses. the ball hits him on the foot and rolls near the dougout. does he still have an opportunity to run to first base or is he automatically out? i called him out and the coach thought he should of been able to run.

A pitched ball is dead if it hits him. A pitched ball that is swung at is a strike, even if it hits him. Since it is dead he can't run.