Walked batter touches ball

[Guest Dave]

Nobody on base.  Batter is walked and ball gets behind catcher, hits backstop and rolls down first base line.  The batter jogs towards first, stops to pick the ball up to give back to the pitcher.  Is the batter out for touching a live ball?

[The Man in Blue]

While the ball is still live on a walk (side note: no coach, you can't have time yet), the question you need to ask yourself is "Did the batter runner prevent the defense from an attempt at a play?"  Since there is no play to be made while the batter is advancing to his awarded base, I'd say you just have good sportsmanship.

[noumpere]

7 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I'd say you just have good sportsmanship.

And a teaching moment

[Mudisfun]

Time.

Hey, don't do that. Next time you may have runners on and either you're interfering OR maybe actually helping the defense against your own team!

[Dottelife]

No one on who cares. Runners on and no one tries to advance just let coach know between innings that it’s a live ball so maybe don’t do that. Runner on tries to advance you have a problem.