Hit by Pitch, or Just a Ball

[Mudder]

High School ball, OBR, RH batter, pitch comes in from a RHP, high and very tight, I'm PU and notice the ball is coming in directly at the head/shoulder area of the BR, instead of backing up or squatting down to avoid being hit the BR bends at the waist with his head toward the plate, pitch hits him in the helmet (his head was not in the strike zone at contact)

Is it a HPB, do you give him 1B, or rule it a ball, as he intentionally got hit?

[Velho]

I can understand he moved into the ball but did you think he intentionally head butted the pitch?

[834k3r]

On 4/28/2023 at 4:05 PM, Velho said:

I can understand he moved into the ball but did you think he intentionally head butted the pitch?

It's only happened once, but it has happened with me. I was behind the plate and the batter leaned his body in then lowered his head to try and get a HBP. It really looked like he was trying to head the ball at one of @MadMax's soccer games.

Personally, I wouldn't try it, but with all the armor on these kids they're not afraid of getting hit.

Back to the OP:  if you're convinced he intentionally put his body into the path of the ball, you call the pitch wherever it was in relation to your strike zone. In this case, call it a ball and get ready to hear from the batter, coach, and probably his parents why you didn't award him 1B.