Expert: Andrew Senger - 6/26/2009

Question
There was a play at the plate where the throw from the OF went by the catcher and sliding runner and hit the on deck batter, who was in the position of base coaching the runner to slide. The ball ricocheted off of the on deck batter far enough for the other runners to advance. What should the call be?  No call was made by the ump.

Answer
Vic,

Unless the on-deck batter purposely interfered with the play, there is no call.

Official Baseball Rules, 3.15 No person shall be allowed on the playing field during a game except players and coaches in uniform, managers, news photographers authorized by the home team, umpires, officers of the law in uniform and watchmen or other employees of the home club. In case of unintentional interference with play by any person herein authorized to be on the playing field (except members of the offensive team participating in the game, or a coach in the coach’s box, or an umpire) the ball is alive and in play. If the interference is intentional, the ball shall be dead at the moment of the interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference.

As the rule states, the on-deck batter is allowed on the field. Therefore, if the interference is not intentional, then the ball is alive and in play.