Pitch hits ground then batter is it a ball or hit by pitch?

by Mitch
(Boron, ca.)

Mitch asked: Pitch hits ground then batter, is it a ball or hit by pitch?

Question is for Minor Division Softball in Little League.


Rick answered: Mitch, thank you for your question.

A delivered pitch does not have to be in the air.

When the ball hits the ground, then hits the batter, it becomes a dead ball, batter awarded first base.

On the other side of it, should the ball hit the dirt, the batter can legally hit the pitch as it is still alive.

There have been numerous cases in MLB of players getting base hits on a ball which bounced.

Yours in baseball/softball,

Rick