Switch Hitting Rules

A batter can switch before every pitch if he wants to. There is no restriction relative to the count on the batter or whether the pitchers are changed.

Pilsner, does that apply in the minor leagues on up? That would seem odd to see someone do that. Let me see now left or right.

The only restriction is that the batter cannot switch when the pitcher is on the rubber.

I saw this the other day. The batter started out LH because he wanted to try to drag bunt. After this failed attempt, he went back to his standard RH stance.

The rules also dictate in an ambidextrous pitcher situation that the pitcher may change hands only once during at AB. The rules also state that after the pitcher has changed, the batter is permitted to change only one time.

In the first example, (switching boxes while the P is on the rubber) the batter is out.

However, in my second example (ambixtrous pitcher) there is no penalty for either except that if either continue to switch they would be ejected.

AKBaseball20,

True, it would be very odd to see a batter switching back and forth. The vast majority of players bat either right or left so you wouldn't see any of them switch. Those few who can bat both ways (except for, perhaps, the example that Mr. Byrd mentioned) don't need to switch once they're in the box because the pitcher can't switch. If the pitcher is ambidextrous, the umpire is to require the pitcher to pitch to the batter as a righty or a lefty but not both.

Oops! Minor edit here.

If the batter stepped in as a lefty thinking the pitcher was going to pitch right-handed and the pitcher declared left-handed, the batter might switch once. After that the pitcher would be locked in to pitching left-handed and the batter wouldn't need to switch again.

quote:

The rules also dictate in an ambidextrous pitcher situation that the pitcher may change hands only once during at AB. The rules also state that after the pitcher has changed, the batter is permitted to change only one time.

Jeremy,

I'm not familiar with the rule as you wrote it above. (i.e. that the pitcher can change during an at-bat. Or that the batter is then restricted to only one change. Would you please cite the rule reference. This would be a valuable piece of education for me.

Please keep in mind that most of what I post on these forums comes from either MLB or Minor League Baseball Rules. I've also added the college rule reference as well for this topic.

In the MLB interpretation manual: (keep in mind in MLB there is no penalty for such actions) "After having delivered the first pitch to any batter, an ambidextrous pitcher may then switch to his opposite pitching arm only once while the same player is at bat. The batter or substitute batter is also allowed one switch after the pitcher has switched arms."

In college rule 9-2-K would back up what you were saying.

A Pitcher Cannot:

(K) Pitch both right-handed and left-handed to the same batter during a plate appearance. PENALTY: The umpire shall: (1) Call a balk with runners on (2) ball with no runners on (illegal pitch)(3)warn the pitcher or (4) eject if repeated.

A.R 1 When facing a switch hitter the ambi. pitcher shall declare the hand with which to pitch to the hitter.

A.R 2 If a pinch hitter replaces a batter during a turn at bat, the pitcher may change pitching hands.


I would assume that the fed rule is similar if not exact to the college rule?

Jeremy,

Thanks for the additional info. Much appreciated.

I was referring to Fed/NCAA rules.

pilsner and Jeremy,
Thanks to both of you for clarfying everything.