Game Situation: Batter Interferes With Rolling Pitch


A. No one on base. The pitcher begins his wind-up but stumbles but still throws the pitch. The pitch bounces several times between the pitchers' mound and home but has enough energy to likely cross the plate. The "helpful" batter leaves the batter box to go in front of the plate and grabs the ball and hands it to the catcher. Is there any penalty for the batter handling the pitch?
 
Call
The pitch is ruled a ball. With nobody on base, no interference is called on the batter for handling the pitch.


B. What if there was a runner on base who was not stealing (but probably should have been)? What if the runner was stealing?
 
Call
In both cases, the pitch is ruled a ball and the ball is dead immediately. With no one stealing, there is no penalty against the batter. With a runner stealing, the batter is out for interference and the runner returns to his original base.

 
C. Lastly, instead of the batter stepping in front of the plate to handle the ball, what if the catcher stepped out front of the plate to catch the ball and return it to the pitcher? Any problems with that action?

Call
Even on a rolling ball, the batter must be given the opportunity to address the pitch. This is catcher's interference, and the batter is awarded first base.