Batter Struck by Batted Ball

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Jun 21, 2017
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We have 2 slappers on our team that occasionally will hit a ball of their body while trying to slap or drag bunt. They have been called out a few times for the ball hitting them while out of the box, and other times it has been called a foul ball due to the batter still being in the box. When I ask umpires what constitutes the batter still being in the batter's box, I usually get two different answers. Answer 1: If the ball hits any portion of the body that is outside the batter's box, the batter is out. Answer 2: If the ball hits the batter and any portion of their body is still in the batter's box, it is a foul ball. Which answer is correct? The scenario that I see with slappers is that they make contact with their left foot on the ground completely inside the batter's box, but then the ball deflects off the right leg as they are taking the next step, with the right foot being out of the box but the left foot still within the confines of the box. The two interpretations above give me 2 different calls, out or foul. Also, right handers when they are bunting occasionally will bunt the ball and as they are leaving the box get struck by the ball. In most cases, the ump calls that a foul ball, even though at times the batter has one foot out of the box as they are starting to run to first base. What constitutes a batter still being in the batter's box when struck by a batted ball?
 
Jun 22, 2008
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The rule is to protect a batter who is hit by a batted ball that bounces back into them after being hit, it does not protect them if they are the one who contacts a fair batted ball regardless of if they are in the box or not.
 
Jun 21, 2017
7
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The rule is to protect a batter who is hit by a batted ball that bounces back into them after being hit, it does not protect them if they are the one who contacts a fair batted ball regardless of if they are in the box or not.

So what is considered a fair batted ball? A portion of the box is in fair territory - is the batter protected if hit by a batted ball while in the box in fair territory? Obviously batters hit balls off their legs or feet all of the time, and these are ruled foul balls. Is it safe to say that if the batter contacts the ball and the ball then hits the batter (foot, leg, chest, etc.) before hitting the ground, it is considered a foul ball? And if a ball hits the ground in fair territory and then hits the batter, they are out?

With slappers and drag bunters, their point of contact is always in front of the plate in fair territory. If they hit the ball and the ball hits them in fair territory before hitting the ground, are they out?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
A batted that goes from the bat and hits the batters body, or hits the ground and bounces back into the batter is just a foul ball. These are cases where the ball has hit the batter while still in the box. But, if it is the batter who initiates the contact with a fair batted ball, there is no protection by being in the box. Example, batter hits a ball that strikes the ground just in front of the plate but bounces straight up. Batter has not stepped out of the box yet, but as they go to run to 1st base they run into the ball. In this situation there is not protection by the batter being in the box and the batter would be out.
 
Apr 17, 2012
806
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Wi
To be out of the box your entire foot needs to be out. If part of your foot is on the chalk youre in the box. Now Comps points are separate from what constitutes being physically in or out.
 
May 30, 2011
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This is much like a batted ball that makes contact with a discarded bat. Does that ball roll back into the bat (nothing) or does the thrown bat catch up to and hit the ball a 2nd time in fair territory (interference)?

With the bunt or slap that makes contact with the batter if the batted ball rolled/bounced/spun back into the batter and made contact with her while she was still in the box or even makes contact with her in front of home plate as she is exiting the box and sill partially in the box it should be ruled a foul ball. On the flip side if the ball is bouncing around in front of plate and the batter runs into the ball in fair ground it's INT.

Those two scenarios sound very similar and they are. It comes down to judgement like so many things. Did the ball hit the batter exiting the box or did the batter catch up to and run into the ball? "Dont guess an out" applies here. if I'm uncertain I'm pointing a the box and calling "Right here, foul ball!"
 
Last edited:

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
To be out of the box your entire foot needs to be out. If part of your foot is on the chalk youre in the box. Now Comps points are separate from what constitutes being physically in or out.

That's because you are citing the rule directed at the batter when making contact with a pitched ball, nothing else.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
A batted that goes from the bat and hits the batters body, or hits the ground and bounces back into the batter is just a foul ball. These are cases where the ball has hit the batter while still in the box. But, if it is the batter who initiates the contact with a fair batted ball, there is no protection by being in the box. Example, batter hits a ball that strikes the ground just in front of the plate but bounces straight up. Batter has not stepped out of the box yet, but as they go to run to 1st base they run into the ball. In this situation there is not protection by the batter being in the box and the batter would be out.

It should also be noted that once it can be determined it is a fair batted ball, the player is now the batter-runner and not afforded any protection from being hit with a batted ball.
 
Mar 26, 2013
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It should also be noted that once it can be determined it is a fair batted ball, the player is now the batter-runner and not afforded any protection from being hit with a batted ball.
Seems like a chicken-egg situation if the ball is moving in fair territory - doesn't contacting the player make it a fair batted ball?
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Seems like a chicken-egg situation if the ball is moving in fair territory - doesn't contacting the player make it a fair batted ball?

It doesn't have to contact anything to be a fair batted ball. As Comp noted earlier, this rule is meant to protect the batter from direct or immediate contact with a ball off the bat. If that isn't the case and the ball is over/in fair territory and contacts a BR moving to advance to 1B, that is INT whether in the BB or not
 

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