what is the ruling if a batter checks his swing, but the ball hits the...

[Nick Pizzi]

...players hands and bounces in play? OK heres the situation. The batter checks his swing, but is struck in the hands with the ball. The ball is hit into play and the pitcher fields the ball and throws to first. What is the ruling on this? I have always heard that the hands are an extension of the bat when swinging at the pitch, and therefore the ball is a live ball. Can anyone clarify this? Also, the pitch looked to be a strike. This occured with a 3-2 count, if that makes any difference.

[T Roy]

I dont know the official ruling, but I believe if the batter doesnt fully swing and it hits him, he gets first.

[mattapan26]

It happened to Jason Varitek today, but they must have ruled that he swung, because the pitcher threw to first and he was out.

[David W]

Based on the way you describe the play...

If the ball is judged to have hit the hands of the batter, the umpire will immediately call, "Time!" If a check swing and the plate umpire has a swing, he will signal and call the strike and since the ball is dead, the batter is out. Should the plate umpire have no swing, then he will immediately go to the appropriate wing (First or Third base) umpire for an appeal. This is the one time he will not wait for the defense to ask for the swing appeal. If the appeal is "Yes, he did.", then it is strike three, batter out as above. If it is "No, he didn't.", then the batter is awarded first base.

The hands are never an "extension" of the bat. Any pitch that touches a batter is a dead ball without exception. Now if the pitch is in the strike zone, whether the the pitch touches the batter is moot; the pitch should be ruled a strike.

Hands part of bat is as much as incorrect rules undertstanding as balk is a pitcher deceivng the runner r tie goes to the runner. Sandlot rules that just are not true. Nor correct.

[David]

If the batter checked his swing, he would be a hit batter. Unless he went too far starting the swing. That would be a judgement call by the umpire.

[Trich]

If he checked the swing it's a hit by pitch. If it was determined that he did not check his swing and he did infact offer at the ball it's a dead ball to be ruled as foul. It would be just like if it tipped off the bat and hit him in the batters box. Also, the whole hands being an extention of the bat thing is a myth. If the ball hits the batters hand without the batter swinging its a HBP if he does swing and it hits his hands it's a strike, just as it would be if it hit him in the head but he was swinging at it.