Hit Batter Rule

[DGTYER]

Can someone please help me with this? When a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt and then hits a batter does he advance to first? If so where can I find this in the rule book? Thanks for any help

[JRutledge]

Yes.

The pitch does not end because the ball hits the dirt. Not sure what rulebook you are looking for.

Peace

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DGTYER

Can someone please help me with this? When a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt and then hits a batter does he advance to first? If so where can I find this in the rule book? Thanks for any help

In OBR (or as you might know them, "pro rules") Rule 6.08(b) and APPROVED RULING.

In NFHS (high school rules) Rule 8-1-1d plus EXCEPTION and NOTE.

[TwoBits]

In the 2007 edition, I don't see anything that specifically says that a batter is still awarded first base if the pitch hits the ground. However, it does list cases in which a batter can be hit and NOT be awarded first base, and a pitch hitting the ground is not one of them. Same thing can be said for my copy of OBR (2006 Sporting News Edition).

FED softball has the specific wording regarding the batter still being awarded first base on a pitched ball in the dirt.

If all else fails, have the person/coach/rat arguing with you think of it this way: If you could purposely bean a batter and still have them not awarded first, don't you thing the pros would have figured it out? Do you ever see a pro pitcher attempting to bean someone by skipping the pitch off the ground?

[mcrowder]

Or better yet ... tell the coach there is absolutely no difference between a pitch that has hit the ground and one that hasn't, except that it can't be caught (i.e. D3K rule) and can't be a called strike. Such a ball is hittable, not dead, runners can run, HBP's are still HBP's, etc.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by DGTYER

Can someone please help me with this? When a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt and then hits a batter does he advance to first? If so where can I find this in the rule book? Thanks for any help

Rule 2.00 Definition of "Ball"

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Rule 2.00 Definition of "Ball"

Weird place to put it, but you're right, it's there!

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

Weird place to put it, but you're right, it's there!

Where else would you place a definition?

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by DGTYER

Can someone please help me with this? When a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt and then hits a batter does he advance to first? If so where can I find this in the rule book? Thanks for any help

If a pitch bounces before it gets to the batter, and gets past the catcher, may runners attermpt to advance? Of course, because the ball is still live, and still considered a pitch.

Bob

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

Weird place to put it, but you're right, it's there!

It's there because every pitch is either a ball or a strike, and a pitch that bounces and then hits the batter is always a ball.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Where else would you place a definition?

I was referring to the Rule 2.00 (Ball) comment about a batter still being awarded first base on a pitch that hits him after hitting the ground. It seems that explanation would be better suited under 6.08(b).

[JR12]

A BALL is a pitch which does not enter the strike zone in flight and is not struck at by the batter.
Rule 2.00 (Ball) Comment: If the pitch touches the ground and bounces through the strike zone it is a “ball.” If such a pitch touches the batter, he shall be awarded first base. If the batter swings at such a pitch after two strikes, the ball cannot be caught, for the purposes of Rule 6.05(c) and 6.09(b). If the batter hits such a pitch, the ensuing action shall be the same as if he hit the ball in flight