Expert: Rick Bundy - 2/22/2009

Question
what is the batting rule for swing at a pitch and hitting the ball fair but the ball hits the hand on the bat not the bat itself's.  The player hit the ball over the 2nd baseman and in front of the centerfielder. There was confusion over the back that the ball went off the hands and not the bat which the umpire then said was a dead ball and a strike, they then said the batter was hit by the pitch and was awarded 1st base, this caused a great deal of confusion. There are at least 8 rules on dead ball and being hit by a pitcher thrown ball, but nothing that I can find on swinging and hitting the ball. (there is a rule on swing and missing a ball and then being hit which would be a strike) thanks

Answer
Mel:  Thank you for your question on this often misunderstood rule.

Major League Baseball and Little League rule 2.0 states, by definition that:

Definition of touch:  To touch a player or umpire is to touch any part of his body, his clothing or his equipment. (In this case, his hands.)

A strike is a legal pitch which meets any of these conditions, (line e)touches the batters person as the batter strikes at it (dead ball.)

If he was avoiding the pitch, he is awarded first base.

Thus, in the play you describe, since the batter was swinging at the pitch, and the ball hit his hand, it is immediately called a dead ball and recorded as a strike, regardless whether the ball traveled for what would be a hit or not.  Ball is dead on contact.

For the batter to be awarded first base, he/she must be attempting to avoid the pitch, in which case first base is awarded.

I hope this helps define that play for you.

Yours in baseball,

Rick