Hit by Pitch Rules

Hi all. 

Over the UCI series, I heard Mike Parker say several times during a Hit by Pitch call, that the batter made no attempt to get out of the way....and therefore should not have been awarded first base.

This caused me to look at the rules.

This is what it says:


Batter Becomes Base Runner

SECTION 2. The batter becomes a base runner:

a. Instantly after the individual makes a fair hit;

b. Instantly after four balls have been called by the umpire or if awarded an

intentional base on balls;

c. Instantly after a dropped third strike, unless there is a runner on first and

fewer than two outs;

d. When hit by a pitched ball at which the individual is not attempting to strike,

the ball is immediately dead;

1) A batter may not make a movement to intentionally get hit by the pitch,

regardless of the location of the pitch. He must also avoid being hit

whenever possible, unless the pitch is within the batter's box occupied by

the batter. If the batter's action is deemed intentional, then:


Rule 8 / BASE RUNNING 71

a) If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or if the

batter moves to intentionally get hit or freezes to allow a pitch that is

not within the batter's box to hit him, the ball is dead, it shall be called

a strike and the batter is not awarded first base.

b) If the ball is within the batter's box occupied by the batter and the

batter makes no movement to intentionally get hit by the pitch, the

batter is awarded first base. In other words, a batter who freezes inside

the batter's box and who is hit by the pitch shall be awarded first base.


So, if you make NO attempt to move, but stay in the box (stand perfectly still like a statue!!)...and get hit, you should be awarded first base....correct?


Am I reading this rule correctly?

kr