Hit by Pitch Rule
Also known as: hit by pitch rule, hit by pitch, HBP rule, get out of the way of a pitch, leaning into a pitch, hit by pitch on the hands
A batter touched by a pitch he is not swinging at gets first base, with exceptions. Under MLB Rule 5.05(b)(2), there is no base award if the ball was in the strike zone or the batter made no attempt to avoid it. NFHS high school rules award the base unless the batter lets the ball hit him. If the batter swings, it is a strike.
In MLB rules, a ball that touches the batter inside the strike zone is a strike, whether he tried to avoid it or not. One outside the zone that touches a batter who made no attempt to avoid it is called a ball. Either way the ball is dead and runners cannot advance. Contact with only jewelry, such as a necklace, does not count.
High school wording is a little different. NFHS Rule 8-1-1d awards first base unless the batter permits the ball to touch him under Rule 7-3-4. The plate umpire judges whether he permitted it. If so, the call is a ball or strike by location and the batter stays up. Contact with only a loose garment, such as an untucked jersey, does not earn a base.
Contact during a swing is a strike, and the ball is dead. The hands count as part of the body, not the bat. When the ball strikes the hands during a check swing, the umpire's swing call decides it. If it is ruled a swing, it is a strike. If not, the normal award applies.
Tips by skill level
If the ball is coming at you, turn away and try to avoid it. A real effort protects your base award.
Learn to turn your back shoulder in and drop the bat out of the way on inside balls. It protects your face and hands and shows the umpire an attempt to avoid contact.
Example
A batter leans his elbow into a slow curveball just off the plate. The umpire rules he made no attempt to avoid it. The call is a ball and he stays at the plate.
Why it matters
Knowing the rule helps hitters protect themselves and keep their base award. It also settles arguments about hands and swings.
Common mistakes
- Leaning into an inside ball and expecting first base
- Thinking contact on the hands during a swing earns a base
- Turning into a ball that is in the strike zone
- Wearing a loose jersey and expecting a base when it is grazed
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to try to get out of the way of a pitch?
In MLB rules, yes. If you make no attempt to avoid a ball outside the zone, it is called a ball and you stay up. High school rules award the base unless the umpire judges you let it hit you.
Is it a hit by pitch if it hits your hands?
Yes, if you did not swing. Your hands count as part of your body. If you swung, it is a strike.
What happens if you get hit by a pitch while swinging?
It is a strike, and the ball is dead. You do not get first base.
Sources
Related terms
- Fear of the Ball (Hitting)Fear of the ball is normal, especially after a hitter has been hit by a pitch. Rebuild trust in steps with softer balls and slower speeds. Teach the hitter to turn away from an inside pitch by tucking the chin and turning the front shoulder in toward the catcher. Add speed only as the hitter stays in comfortably.
- Strike ZoneThe strike zone is the three-dimensional region over home plate where a pitch must pass to be called a strike. Under MLB rules it runs from just below the kneecap up to the midpoint between the batter's shoulders and the top of the uniform pants.
- Check SwingA check swing is a swing the hitter stops before the bat crosses the plane of contact. It counts as a swing if the bat and wrists broke toward the ball.
- Batting Helmet (NOCSAE, C-Flap)A batting helmet must meet the NOCSAE standard for batter's headgear and carry the NOCSAE stamp. High school rules require one with ear flaps on both sides for batters, on-deck batters and runners. A C-flap or face guard adds jaw and face protection. NFHS rules allow one but do not require it. A good fit is snug with no wobble.
- Batter's Box RuleA batter who hits the ball, fair or foul, with a foot on the ground entirely outside the batter's box is out. That is MLB Rule 6.03(a)(1) and NFHS Rule 7-3-2. The chalk lines belong to the box. A foot touching a line is legal. High school rules also call a batter out for making contact with a foot on home plate.
Related guides & benchmarks
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