After F1 has started his delivery, B1 requests but is not granted time and steps out of the batter's box.

After F1 has started his delivery, B1 requests but is not granted time and steps out of the batter's box.

• A. The pitch is a strike regardless of the location.
• B. The ball remains live.
• C. The ball is dead and the batter is allowed to re-enter the batter's box with no penalty.
• D. A and B.

Answer: (D)

When the pitcher has started the delivery, a batter who steps out of the batter’s box while time has not been granted is penalized by a strike against the batter, no matter where the pitch would have gone. The ball remains live because this violation does not deaden the ball; it simply adds a strike and keeps play in motion. In this scenario, the correct ruling is that the pitch is a strike regardless of location and the ball remains live. If time had been granted, stepping out would be permitted with no strike and no immediate penalty.

When the pitcher has started the delivery, a batter who steps out of the batter’s box while time has not been granted is penalized by a strike against the batter, no matter where the pitch would have gone. The ball remains live because this violation does not deaden the ball; it simply adds a strike and keeps play in motion. In this scenario, the correct ruling is that the pitch is a strike regardless of location and the ball remains live. If time had been granted, stepping out would be permitted with no strike and no immediate penalty.