Official at bat

Anonymous asked: Two outs in the inning. Player is at bat but, before any ball is pitched, the third out is made by a runner.

Does that constitute an official at bat of the player or does he lead off in the next inning?


Rick answered: Thank you for your question.

Rule 2-39-1: Time at bat is the period beginning when a batter first enters the batter's box and continues until he is put out or becomes a runner.

In the situation you asked about, the third out of the inning is recorded on a baserunner, before a pitch was ever made to the batter.

Three outs, player at the plate leads off the next inning.

It would be the same if pitches were made to the batter; but before the batter was put out or could become a runner the third out was recorded on a baserunner, the batter would still lead off the next inning.

Yours in baseball,

Rick