Ball hits batter

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Blueplate

...and hits the ball fair or foul...
It is my understanding that a ball cannot be hit fair or foul unless it has been struck by the bat..and if so then this rule is saying that the bat struck the ball at sometime.

So on 3rd strike, if a ball hits batter then bat, DB,strike,batter out.

But,if a ball hits the bat then batter on 3rd strike,DB,foul ball???
Does that not contradict the rule...ball hit foul or fair...3rd strike batter out???

The phrase you quoted is meant to make the rule all inclusive, that is, even if the batter makes the ball go into fair or foul territory from body contact; it is still dead ball and if swinging a strike.

Also, what teebob said.