Hit By Pitch, Stay Here! Rule Differences & NCAA Strike

An ejection occurred after a home plate umpire called a batter out on strikes for intentionally allowing a pitch to hit him with no attempt to avoid being touched. Not only did the infamous "HBP: Stay Here!" call befall St Mary's batter Blake McDonald, it resulted in a strike call, which, on a 0-2 pitch, produced an inning-ending strikeout (and parting-shot ejection) early during the team's game against Pepperdine University.

This is where college (NCAA) and professional (OBR) rules differ on hit-by-pitch awards and penalties.

In college, such as the St Mary's-Pepperdine game, NCAA Rule 7-4-i states that, "A strike is awarded if the batter is judged to intentionally make a movement to be hit by a pitch, regardless of where the pitch is located; or allows themself to be intentionally hit by a pitch that is not thrown within the boundaries of the batter's box unless it was not possible to avoid being hit." Thus, even though the pitched ball appeared to touch the batter outside of the strike zone, by rule, a strike was nonetheless called.

In MLB or MiLB, though, this same play would result in a ball added to the count, pursuant to OBR 5.05(b)(2), which adjudicates the play differently: "The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball...If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if they make no attempt to avoid being touched."

For good measure, NFHS (high school) shares OBR (pro)'s rule: the pitch is adjudicated as a ball or a strike depending on its location.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: NCAA batter called for penalty strike for failing to avoid HBP, also ejected (CCS)