UNCAUGHT THIRD STRIKE

RULE 5.09(a)(2) - A batter is out when… a third strike is legally caught by the catcher.

RULE 5.09(a)(2) Comment: “Legally caught” means in the catcher’s glove before the ball touches the ground. It is not legal if the ball lodges in his clothing or paraphernalia; or if it touches the umpire and is caught by the catcher on the rebound. If a foul tip strikes the catcher’s glove and then goes on through and is caught by both hands against his body or protector, before the ball touches the ground, it is a strike, and if third strike, batter is out. If smothered against his body or protector, it is a catch provided the ball struck the catcher’s glove or hand first.

RULE 5.09(a)(3) A batter is out when… a third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied before two are out.

RULE 5.05(a) - The batter becomes a runner when… the third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out.

Rule 5.05(a)(2) Comment: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate.

RULE 6.01(a)(1) - It is interference by a batter or a runner when: After a third strike that is not caught by the catcher, the batter-runner clearly hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball. Such batter-runner is out, the ball is dead, and all other runners return to the bases they occupied at the time of the pitch. If a pitch that is not caught remains in the vicinity of home plate and it is inadvertently deflected by the batter or umpire, that ball is a dead ball and the runners should return to the bases they occupied at the time of the pitch (but if the pitch was strike three, the batter is out).

Rule 6.01(a)(1) Comment: If the pitched ball deflects off the catcher or umpire and subsequently touches the batter-runner, it is not considered interference unless, in the judgment of the umpire, the batter-runner clearly hinders the catcher in his attempt to field the ball.

The term “dropped third strike” has become an incorrect part of the baseball lexicon in the same way “ground-rule double” has. It is a strike that has hit the ground prior to ending up in the catcher's possession. It’s an uncaught third strike.

When a third strike is not caught, the defense must throw out the batter at first base.

BUT if first base is occupied at the time of the pitch with less than two outs, the strike does not have to be caught and the batter is automatically out, even if the runner at first was stealing on the pitch. With two outs, the batter can attempt to advance to first base, even if there is a runner on first base. The runner at first base in this instance would be forced to go to second. If the bases are loaded with two outs on a dropped third strike, all of the runners are forced, and the catcher can simply step on home plate with the ball for third out of the inning.

WHY THIS RULE EXISTS: Who really knows? Presumably the rule-makers decided on the defense having to perform a "clean play" to get rewarded with an out. This is what led to a batter being allowed to advance toward first base if a third strike isn't caught. With this initial rule in place, rule-makers quickly saw a problem with it: With a runner on first base and less than two outs, a catcher could intentionally drop a third strike and turn a quick double play by firing the ball to second base, where a fielder would then throw to first to get the batter out. This rule is cut from the same cloth as the Infield Fly and the Intentional Drop rule -- rule-makers do not want the defense benefitting by intentionally committing errors.

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