What if Batter Hits HR After Pitcher's Clock Violation?

The most common follow-up question we received after Saturday's Max Scherzer pitch clock violation video pertained to the batter: can the offense choose to decline this penalty? In the Scherzer video, the timer expires but HP Umpire Jeremy Riggs doesn't immediately call "Time" to kill play, instead simply pointing at the infraction as Scherzer delivers—late—to home plate. Had the batter hit a home run, for instance, could the offensive team opted to take the result of the play instead of have the pitch clock rule enforced?

The answer to this question is no. Pitch clock violations, at least to start 2023, are to be treated as immediate dead balls. Even if the umpire allows the pitcher to throw toward home plate in an untimely manner, only to call "Time" and enforce the rule after the pitch, MLB sought to eliminate discretion and any potential argument that an umpire wasn't "fast enough" in enforcing the rule by making all such violations an immediate dead ball, with no potential options to decline the penalty or choose an outcome.

This runs in stark contrast to the new infield shift restriction rule, which is treated as a delayed infraction or penalty. In this situation, the offense can choose to take the result of the play (e.g., a sacrifice fly) if the defensive team has violated the shift rule by placing three infielders on one side of second base, for instance. If the batter gets a hit, such as a home run, the shift infraction is simply ignored and the HR stands, similar to the catcher's interference rule in disregarding the infraction if the offense benefits via a hit.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Pitch Clock's Immediate Dead Ball vs Shift Violation's Options Outcome (CCS)