4th World Play

[stl_ump]

Batter swings and misses, ball goes into the catcher's glove and pops straight out and on the batter's back swing, he hits it even before it hits the ground and it goes directly to the pitcher.

If this would have been the 3rd strike what do we have here?  Interference? Nothing?

Thanks

 

[Senor Azul]

From the 2018 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (section 6.27, p. 108):  If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and in the umpire’s judgment unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of the batter on the follow-through or backswing while the batter is still in the batter’s box, it shall be called a strike only (no interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play…If this infraction should occur in a situation where the batter would normally become a runner because of a third strike not caught, the ball shall be dead and the batter declared out regardless of the location of the baseball at the time the backswing hits the catcher.

And in high school ball, the FED says if a batter’s follow-through hinders the catcher’s attempt to field a ball or make a throw, the batter is guilty of interference. The ball is dead, the batter is out, and runners remain TOI.

[stl_ump]

That's what I was leaning towards.  Thank you for the information.

 

[Minnz]

Out in FED.