Catchers box
by Eugene Vatch
(Roselle Illinois)
Chase Field, Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Side view of the batter's and catcher's box
View from behind
Eugene asked: Is their an actual catchers box and does the catcher need to stay in that box prior to a pitch being thrown? Can he set up outside this box?
Rick answered: Eugene, thank you for your question.
MLB rule 2.00: The Catcher's Box is that area within which the catcher shall stand until the pitcher delivers the pitch.
As you look at the photos above, you can see the catcher's box directly behind home plate.
Generally, during a game, those lines get erased due to the traffic.
Depending on the level, there are times the catcher's box gets left out when the field is lined; but it is supposed to be intact at the beginning of each game.
The catcher's box measures 43" wide x 8' long, as measured from the back point of home plate.
The MLB rule covering the catcher's box is 4.03:
(a)The catcher shall station himself directly back of the plate. He may leave his position at any time to catch a pitch or make a play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
Penalty: Balk
Yours in baseball,
Rick
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