Rules 6.05(g) & 6.05(h): Batted Ball Batter's Interference

Rules 6.05(g) and (h) interference occurs when the batter interferes with the natural course of a fair batted ball. When this interference occurs, the bases may not be run; all runners not declared out by virtue of offensive interference shall return to the last base legally touched at the time of interference. When batter's interference occurs, runners must return to the base last occupied at the time of the pitch (as opposed to the time of interference).

Rule 6.05(g) specifies the case of batter's interference:

His fair ball touches him before touching a fielder. If the batter is in a legal position in the batter’s box, see Rule 6.03, and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, a batted ball that strikes the batter or his bat shall be ruled a foul ball

Rule 6.05(h) specifies the case of interference wherein a foreign object contacts the ball:

After hitting or bunting a fair ball, his bat hits the ball a second time in fair territory. The ball is dead and no runners may advance. If the batter-runner drops his bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, the ball is alive and in play. If the batter is in a legal position in the batter’s box, see Rule 6.03, and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, a batted ball that strikes the batter or his bat shall be ruled a foul ball.

Rule 6.03 specifies that a batter's legal position is established with both feet within the batter's box.

Subsequently, Rule 6.05(h) Comment addresses several components of batter's (non-)interference:

Broken Bat (Fair): If batted ball hits broken bat in fair territory, there is no interference and the ball is live.

Broken Bat (Foul): If batted ball hits broken bat in foul territory, the play shall be declared a foul ball.

Helmet (Fair): If a fallen batting helmet is accidentally hit with a batted ball in fair territory, there is no interference and the ball is live.

Helmet (Foul): If a fallen batting helmet is accidentally hit with a batted ball in foul territory, it is a foul ball.

Self: If a batter is hit by a batted ball while in the batter's box immediately after an attempted hit, it is a foul ball. Though subject to umpire's discretion, it is foul whether it hits the batter on the fly or on a bounce.

Thrown Bat: If a whole bat thrown into fair territory interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play, it is interference, whether the bat was thrown intentionally or accidentally.

Thrown Miscellaneous Equipment: If any other equipment is thrown and interferes with a defensive player attempting to make a play, it is interference. Elastic clause Rule 9.01(c) covers all other unique situations.

Batter's Interference is a Judgment Call

Like most other calls in the sport of baseball, offensive (batter's) interference is a judgment call. 

Test Yourself: Examples: 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Read on for the answer key.

Example 1 (Video): During the 6/07/12 Braves-Marlins game, with a runner on first base (R1), the batter (B1) attempted to bunt, his bat striking the pitched ball and sending the ball bouncing in front of home plate before rebounding straight up and striking the bat a second time while R1 was still squared and prone to bunt, with both feet within the batter's box in compliance with Rule 6.03. This is not interference. (h)

Example 1A (Video): Similar to Example 1, the batter attempts to bunt, hitting the ball twice with the bat. Once again, even though the bat hit the ball twice in fair territory, the batter is protected by the Rule 6.03 batter's box exemption. This is not interference. (h)

Example 2 (Video): During the 9/12/10 Twins-Indians game, B1 bunted a pitch in front of home plate, inadvertently contacting the ball with his right hand while running to first base. Even though the contact was accidental and the batter did not intend to interfere with the course of the ball, B1 was not in a legal position of the batter's box and therefore does not enjoy the Rule 6.03 exemption. This is interference and the batter is out. (g)

Example 3 (Video): During a 2011 Rockies-Yankees game, R1, B1 swung at and hit a fair ball into left field. Upon further inspection, it was apparent that the ball shared multiple points of contact with the bat, rather than a single point as in ordinary hits. Even though the ball did hit the bat twice, Rule 6.05(h) specifies that a dead ball may only be called if the ball were to hit a bat a second time in fair territory after an attempted hit or bunt. For the purposes of this rule, the multiple points of contact that characterized B1's swing are considered to have occurred during the hitting action, as opposed to after it. This is not interference and not a foul ball. (h)

Example 4 (Video): During this recreational softball game featuring the Balco Beefcakes, B1 swung at and hit a ball once, before contacting the ball again with his backswing. Because B1 was in the batter's box and did not attempt to interfere, the play is ruled dead and a foul ball. (h)

Example 5 (Video): During Game 2 of the 2000 World Series between the Mets & Yankees, B1 shattered his bat during a foul ball, ultimately resulting in a bench clearing incident as the pitcher (F1) threw the broken barrel of the bat toward B1 in response. Had the foul ball been fair and the shattered bat prevented F1 from making a play on the ball, there would still have been no interference and the ball would have been alive. (h)

Example 6 (Video): During the 5/10/11 White Sox-Angels game, A.J. Pierzynski contracted a case of dangerous lumber, hitting himself with batted balls on two subsequent pitches before fouling a ball off of umpire Tony Randazzo and another off of Angels catcher Jeff Mathis. Because B1 remained in the batter's box both times he was struck, there was no interference and the ball was foul. (h)

Example 7 (Video): During the 5/12/12 Rays-Orioles game, B1 bunted a ball in front of home plate, accidentally kicking the ball with his right foot while running to first base. Because B1 was out of the batter's box when contact occured, the Rule 6.03 exemption is removed and B1 is declared out for interference. (g)

Example 8 (Video): During the 4/16/10 Brewers-Nationals game, B1 Gregg Zaun hit a ball in front of home plate, his dropped bat contacting the ball in fair territory and resulting in an immediate dead ball. B1 was out of the box when this occured and was declared out for impeding the defense. (h)