The rules governing the one base award for being hit by a pitch (HBP) are fairly straight forward – but can still leave some players, coaches, fans and yes, umpires, confused.

The umpire first must make a judgment call: did the pitch hit the batter? Usually this is pretty clear – every one sees the pitch hit him. Sometimes it isn’t clear – did it hit him or just miss him? Let’s say for our purposes, that the umpire judged that the pitch hit the batter.

It’s important to note that a pitch is still a “pitch” even if it bounces to the plate. The batter can be hit by a pitch that bounces before hitting him. While he may not get his base (see the following), it is still a pitch (i.e. it isn’t just a “throw” because it bounced). In fact, the batter can hit the bouncing pitch, should he choose to do so.

A pitch that bounces is just like any other pitch, with two exceptions – it cannot be a called strike and it cannot be a “caught third strike”. [OBR 2.00 (Ball) Comment; NFHS 7.2.2; NCAA 7.4.b]

Any time a pitch hits a batter, it’s an immediate dead ball. This means all play stops (and any base runners return to their time-of-pitch base until forced to the next base by the umpire’s decision). It doesn’t matter if the batter is swinging or ducking or doing nothing – when a pitch hits a batter, it’s an immediate dead ball. [OBR 5.09.a; NFHS 5.1.1.a; NFHS 5.1.1.a.1; NCAA 6.4.c]

However, a pitch that hits a batter, doesn’t always mean the batter is awarded first base for being HBP The umpire has to make a judgment decision. His choices are:

Was the batter swinging? If so, it’s a strike. A strike is never a HBP.

If the batter wasn’t swinging, was the pitch in the strike zone? If so, it’s a strike. Again, no HBP.

If the batter wasn’t swinging and the pitch wasn’t in the strike zone, did the batter make an attempt to avoid being hit? If yes – then he is awarded first base (HBP). If no, then the pitch is called a ball.

It doesn’t matter where the pitch hits the batter – on the hands, on the back, on the foot, on the head. Any time a batter is hit by a pitch, the umpire makes his decision on those three criteria. [OBR 6.08.b; NFHS 8.1.1.d; NCAA 8.2.d]

Important – the hands are NOT part of the bat. See our article ““Are the Hands Part of the Bat?” for more about that old myth.

A difficult judgment for the umpire to make is when the ball hits both the hands and the bat (or appears to). If, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball hit the hands then the bat – it’s a dead ball and he decides if it’s a HBP by the three criteria noted above. Remember – a pitch that hits the batter is immediately dead – so in this example, it was a dead ball that hit the bat, not a pitch.

If the pitch hits the bat then the hands – it’s a foul ball and immediately dead. This assumes, of course, that the batter did not have either foot completely out of the batters box. If he did, it would be ruled a dead ball and the batter is out (see next paragraph). [J/R 2.C; NFHS Case Book; NCAA 7.7.e]

Under NFHS and NCAA (but not OBR), a batter is out if any part of his foot is touching the plate when he hits the ball. Since a correctly drawn batter’s box is only six inches from the plate, this is very possible. Note that OBR does not mention the plate at all. It simply says that a batter is out if he hits the ball with either foot (or both) completely outside of the batters box. [OBR 6.06.a; NFHS 7.3.2; NCAA 7.10.a]

While the batter MUST make an attempt to avoid being hit by the ball in all rules (yes, even in NCAA – see NCAA 8.2.d.2) , the NCAA rules do have an exception.

Under the Approved Ruling in NCAA 8.2.d.2, a batter is entitled to first base if he freezes and is hit by a pitch that is clearly within the vertical lines of the batter’s box. He can’t move, he must freeze.

This NCAA ruling can cause problems in youth baseball, when many umpires are current or former college players. The rules being played under may by OBR or NFHS, but these umpires tend to call the HBP rule as if the game was using NCAA rules.

In all rules, a pitch that hits a batter’s properly worn uniform or equipment is considered the same as hitting the batter.

However, some books mention this and some don’t, but it is the way the situation is handled at all levels. [Definition of PERSON in OBR 2.00; NFHS 8.1.1.d]

Of course, in all rule books, the award for being HBP is one base and all runners advance, if forced. [OBR 6.08.b; NFHS 8.1.2.a; NCAA 6.4.c; NCAA 8.2.d]