Australian Foul - Runner's Interference with Catcher

[Lindsay]

A runner's batted ball interference with a catcher during Game 1 of Baseball South Australia's Grand Final between Goodwood and Sturt prompted our latest Ask the UEFL Rules Review feature, as we consider several possible outcomes for a peculiar play at the plate. Play: With two out and runners...

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[Senor Azul]

From the 2016 BRD (section 295, pp. 295-296):

Interference by:  Batter-Runner or Runner:  w/Fielder:  Batted Ball May Become:  Fair or Foul

OBR Official Interpretation:  Wendelstedt:  The ball is delayed dead when a batter-runner or runner interferes with a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball that may become either fair or foul. PENALTY:  After the fair/foul status of the ball is determined:  (1) The ball is dead. (2) The runner who interfered is out. (It could be the batter-runner.) (3) If the ball is fair, the batter is awarded first unless he is also called out. (4) If the ball is foul, the batter remains at bat with a strike added to the count unless he already had two strikes. (5) All other runners return TOP unless they are called out.

Mr. Childress got this official interpretation from the Wendelstedt manual. I have the 2013 edition of the Wendelstedt Rules and Interpretations Manual. Under the heading Enforcement on page 180 it says—

When the runner interferes with the fielder fielding a batted ball, the umpire will call and signal interference, and allow the play to continue. Once the determination of whether the ball became fair, or otherwise, i.e., foul or caught over foul territory, he will call time. The runner who created the interference is out.

If the ball was fair, the batter-runner is awarded first base (unless he is also called out)…

Here’s what is written in footnote 427 on page 180 (section 9.3.6 Interference with a Fielder on a Batted Ball)—

If there are two outs at the time of the interference, the batter due up to start the next inning is determined by whether the ball ultimately became fair. If it did, the next batter is due up to lead off. Otherwise, the current batter will return to bat lead off the next inning (unless he is called out).

 

 

Here’s another rule I think needs to be considered in this scenario.

2019 OBR rule 5.04(c) Completing Time at Bat

A batter has legally completed his time at bat when he is put out or becomes a runner.