Baseball Balk During Outfield Catch: Inning Over or Dead Ball?
Question
There are 2 outs and a player hits a ball to the outfield, and it is caught, but the pitcher balks during that pitch, is the inning over? Is it a dead ball? I don't think the offence should get penalized on this.
Answer
Nathalie,
When the pitcher balks, there are two possible outcomes:
(1) The batter and all runners advance at least one base. In this case, the balk is ignored and the outcome of the play is kept.
(2) The batter doesn't advance to first base safely OR at least one runner didn't advance one base. In this case, the balk is enforced; the runners are advanced one base from their time of pitch base and the batter returns to hit with the same count.
Your situation falls under outcome #2 because the batter did not advance to first base safely. Therefore, the ball would be dead, the runners would be awarded the next base, and the batter would return to hit.
Baseball Rules: Runner Hit by Ball - Out or Advance?
Baseball Rule Clarification: Forced Out at Third Base