Hit by pitch

[David Van Milligen]

"The pitcher throws the ball, the ball bounces (hits the ground) - then it hits the batter. The batter did make the attempt to move. The call is? Is the ball still live? What if it where to cross the strike zone? I do know that if the batter swings that it is live"

Any time a batter is HBP, the ball is dead. Even in the stike zone, even if swong at, even if bounces in. If it is swong at or in the strike zone, it is a strike, and unless strike three, the batter stays. The batter needs to make an attempt to avoid the ball, for a free walk to first.