HBP Question ...

3afan · #1 (**permalink**) Sat May 22, 2004, 07:22am

OK, this may be a dumb question, but ....... if a batter is hit by a pitch, and she tries to get out of the way, is she REQUIRED to go to 1st base or CAN she stay and hit (with a ball added to the count) ?????

mick · #2 (**permalink**) Sat May 22, 2004, 07:38am

Quote:

Originally posted by 3afan
OK, this may be a dumb question, but ....... if a batter is hit by a pitch, and she tries to get out of the way, is she REQUIRED to go to 1st base or CAN she stay and hit (with a ball added to the count) ?????

Remaining at bat is not an option.
mick

greymule · #3 (**permalink**) Sat May 22, 2004, 07:55am

I heard that in MLB long ago, a hit batter did have the option. Maybe that's the source of this idea.

3afan · #4 (**permalink**) Sat May 22, 2004, 08:27am

the "source" is ... someone casually asked me and i was not 100% sure - so i asked.

bluezebra · #5 (**permalink**) Sun May 23, 2004, 01:16am

Quote:

Originally posted by greymule
I heard that in MLB long ago, a hit batter did have the option. Maybe that's the source of this idea.

You heard wrong. I never saw this rule in the history of rules changes.

TBBlue · #6 (**permalink**) Sun May 23, 2004, 12:21pm

Sounds like someone who doesn't want the bat taken out of slugger's hands on HBP. Sometimes those are better for defense than facing batter.