Is batter interference an at bat?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 06, 2026
If the catcher retires the runner who is attempting to steal, batter interference is nullified, if it should occur. The runner is out and the batter remains at bat. If the batter interferes with the catcher on “strike three” and the catcher attempts to throw out a runner, both the batter and the runner are called out.
What is considered batter's interference?
If the batter interferes with the catcher's throw to retire a runner by stepping out of the batter's box, the plate umpire shall call “Interference.” The batter is out and the ball is dead (provided the catcher's initial throw does not retire the runner; see following paragraph).
Is batter interference a dead ball?
When a base runner is stealing and the catcher comes up quickly with a throw to attempt to retire the runner, the batter cannot in any way impede the catcher's effort – either intentionally or unintentionally. If he does, then the batter is out, the ball is dead, and all runners must return to their time-of-pitch base.
What is considered an at bat?
Definition. An official at-bat comes when a batter reaches base via a fielder's choice, hit or an error (not including catcher's interference) or when a batter is put out on a non-sacrifice. (Whereas a plate appearance refers to each completed turn batting, regardless of the result.)
What does not count as an at bat?
In baseball, an At-Bat (AB) is any Plate Appearance (PA) that results in a hit, error, fielder's choice or a non-sacrifice out. Any other result, like a walk, hit-by-pitch, sacrifice fly, sacrifice bunt, or catcher's interference, does not count towards an official At-Bat.
28 related questions foundIs a BB considered an at bat?
Batters will not receive credit for an at bat if their plate appearances end under the following circumstances: They receive a base on balls (BB). They are hit by a pitch (HBP).
Is a strike out considered an at bat?
Looking at the two stats in the opposite way, the following outcomes are what count as an at bat: Strikeout. Hit.
What is MLB at bat?
At Bat – the #1 source for live baseball on your iPhone and iPad – Is the official app of Major League Baseball. At Bat offers two subscription options for its extensive premium features, covering live MLB games from Opening Day to the World Series. – Yearly recurring fee of $19.99.
Do sacrifice bunts count as at-bats?
A successful sacrifice bunt does not count as an at bat, does not impact a player's batting average, and counts as a plate appearance. Unlike a sacrifice fly, a sacrifice bunt is not included in the calculation of the player's on-base percentage.
Can a batter carry the bat to first base?
Any batter-runner who carries the bat during a live ball and legally reaches or touches 1st base while still holding the bat, will be declared out. Should this be the 3rd out of the inning, no preceding runner shall score.
Can a batter switch sides during an at bat in Little League?
The batter can switch boxes at any time, provided he does not do it after the pitcher is ready to pitch.
What happens if a batter gets injured during an at bat?
If a batter is injured during his at bat and needs to be substituted, the substituted player will assume the at bat with the same count as the injured player.
What is batter interference in softball?
Batter Interference occurs while the batter is at bat and before she hits the ball. It takes place when the batter: ❖ Intentionally interferes with the catcher's throw on an attempted steal EFFECT: Dead ball; Batter is out; all runners must return to last base touched.
Does a batter have to avoid a pitch?
The new rule reads as follows. “(1) A batter must attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch. If he does not attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch then: a) If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, the ball is dead, it shall be called a ball and the batter is not awarded first base.
Can a batter catch a pitched ball?
In baseball, hit by pitch (HBP) is an event in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB).
Does sac fly count against batting average?
A sacrifice fly does not count as an at-bat and therefore does not count against a player's batting average. The thinking behind the rule is that with a man on third base and fewer than two outs, a batter will often intentionally try to hit a fly ball, sacrificing his time at bat to help score a run.
Is a suicide squeeze a sacrifice bunt?
In baseball, the squeeze play (a.k.a. squeeze bunt) is a maneuver consisting of a sacrifice bunt with a runner on third base. The batter bunts the ball, expecting to be thrown out at first base, but providing the runner on third base an opportunity to score.
Does a sac groundout count as an at bat?
A batter who performs a sacrifice is not charged with an at-bat, in recognition of what he has contributed to the team.
What does H stand for in baseball?
A hit occurs when a batter strikes the baseball into fair territory and reaches base without doing so via an error or a fielder's choice.
What does K mean in baseball?
In the scorebook, a strikeout is denoted by the letter K. A third-strike call on which the batter doesn't swing is denoted with a backward K.
What does TB stand for in baseball stats?
Total bases refer to the number of bases gained by a batter through his hits. A batter records one total base for a single, two total bases for a double, three total bases for a triple and four total bases for a home run.
How many strikes does a batter get before striking out?
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accrues three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means the batter is out.
What is the difference between PA and AB?
Plate appearances can often be confused with at-bats. But unlike with at-bats -- which only occur on certain results -- a plate appearance takes into account every single time a batter comes up and a result between batter and pitcher is obtained.
What happens if a batter hits the catcher?
If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and in the umpire's judgment unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of the batter on the follow-through or backswing while the batter is still in the batter's box, it shall be called a strike only (no interference).
What happens if the batter hits the catcher with his backswing?
So unless the catcher jumps up and moves into the swing, if the bat hits the catcher on the follow through, it's the batter's fault. If no play is in progress when the contact occurs, there cannot be interference. The pitch is called a strike, the ball is dead and no runner shall advance on the play.