Thrown ball hits batter in batter's box

[Guest Scott]

Right-handed batter up, and runner on second takes off to steal third. Catcher throws down to third, but the thrown ball hits the bat which is being held by the batter who is still in the box. What is the correct call? Thanks.

[Rich Ives]

36 minutes ago, Guest Scott said:

Right-handed batter up, and runner on second takes off to steal third. Catcher throws down to third, but the thrown ball hits the bat which is being held by the batter who is still in the box. What is the correct call? Thanks.

If the batter didn't make any unnatural movements - play the bounce.

[Senor Azul]

If there is an attempt by the catcher to throw and the attempt is aborted due to an action by the offense, the ball is dead immediately, the batter is out, and runners return to the base occupied at TOP (or TOI in OBR). But as you describe it, we have an error on the catcher. High school rules (FED or NFHS) actually give us a great example of how to rule on this play with the following case book play--

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 7.3.5 Situation E:  With less than two outs, R2 and B2 at the plate, R2 attempts to steal third. In the process, B2, who bats right-handed, after swinging or not swinging at the pitch (a) makes no attempt to get out of the way of F2 throwing to third or (b) is unable to make an attempt to get out of the way of F2 throwing to third. As a result, F2 cannot make a play on the runner. Is B2 out, and must R2 return to second? RULING:  B2 is not guilty of interference in (a) or (b). B2 is entitled to his position in the batter’s box and is not subject to being penalized for interference unless he moves or re-establishes his position after F2 has received the pitch, which then prevents F2 from attempting to play on a runner. Failing to move so F2 can make a throw is not batter interference.

 

[noumpere]

6 hours ago, Guest Scott said:

Right-handed batter up, and runner on second takes off to steal third. Catcher throws down to third, but the thrown ball hits the bat which is being held by the batter who is still in the box. What is the correct call? Thanks.

From MLBUM (old, but I think it's still valid:

 

However, if the batter is standing in the batter's box and he or his bat is struck by the catcher's
throw back to the pitcher (or throw in attempting to retire a runner) and, in the umpire's
judgment, there is no intent on the part of the batter to interfere with the throw, the ball is alive
and in play.

[agdz59]

There is an irony here if a good-intentioned batter makes a move to get out of the way - then it would be interference.  But as you describe it - it's baseball.  Play on.

[spark2212]

10 hours ago, Guest Scott said:

Right-handed batter up, and runner on second takes off to steal third. Catcher throws down to third, but the thrown ball hits the bat which is being held by the batter who is still in the box. What is the correct call? Thanks.

Assuming there’s no reason to charge the batter with interference, the ball is live and whatever happens, happens.

 

A good example of this occurred in the top of the seventh inning in game 5 of the 2015 ALDS between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

While the initial call was “dead ball,” the umpires were able to confer and eventually came to the correct conclusion.

[Guest Scott]

Thank you, everybody.