a batted ball hits the pitchers plate and bounces and rolls to the area behind the home plate without a player touching it, is it a fair ball ?

by J J
(Boston)

JJ asked: Line drive hits pitchers plate and comes straight back behind home plate without being touched.....is it fair or foul?



Rick answered: JJ, thank you for your question.

Art 1...A fair ball is a batted ball which:

a) settles on fair territory between home and third base or between home and first base; or

b) contacts fair ground on or beyond an imaginary line between first and third base...


The pitchers plate sets slightly in front of that imaginary line between first and third base, so when the batted ball hits the pitcher's plate, and then comes straight back behind home plate, without being touched, it is a foul ball.


Yours in baseball,

Rick