Understanding the Strike Zone: Dimensions and Rules

Question
What is the area of the strike zone?  I know the ball has to go over the home plate.  I do not know how to determine the area of hight. Can you explain this to me?  Thank you.

Answer
Caridad,

The major league rulebook defines the strike zone as:

"The STRIKE ZONEis that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the knee cap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball."

So basically, from the middle of the torso to the knee and as wide as the plate.  The ball only has to touch a portion of this zone to be considered a strike.

Hope this helps!

Brian