hit by line drive while at 3rd base

Question
QUESTION: What is the correct call if a base runner is hit by a line drive while touching the bag at 3rd and the ball deflects foul before passing the bag? Please answer as if batter was in fair territory and foul territory if it makes a difference. There was also a runner on 1st what does he do

ANSWER: First of all, because the runner is touching the base, there is no effect on the runner.

The ball is fair or foul based on the position of the ball when it hits the runner on third.  If the ball is over foul territory when it hits the runner, the ball is foul.  If the ball is over fair territory when it hits the runner the ball is fair.  The ball can not deflect foul it is determined to be fair or foul based on the position of the ball when it hits the runner that is in contact with the base.

I would think the runner on first should be on their way to second to avoid being thrown out if the ball is fair.

Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If the ball is deemed fair when it hits the runner is it a "dead ball" or live ball in play? Also if the runner was not in contact with bag but standing on the foul line in front of the bag is he then out? I presume if he was ion foul territory then the ball would be called foul?

Answer
If the runner is standing on the base when it hits him, live ball unless the ball is over foul territory when it hits the runner.  Then it is just a foul ball.

When the runner is off the base when hit, it doesn't matter where the runners feet are.  If the runner is standing on the foul line I assume part of the runners body is over foul territory and part is over fair territory.

When off the base:
If the ball hits the part of the runner that is over foul territory, you have a foul ball.  If the part of the runner that is hit is over fair territory, dead ball, runner out for interference, batter awarded first base if the inning isn't over and any runners not forced to advance because of the award at first return to the last base touched at the time of interference.

Tom