pick offs

Question
In Jr. Little League,if a runner is on second base, can a right handed pitcher in process of picking him off throw to 3rd base rather than second?

Answer
Don:  Thank you for your question.

It sounds like a situation where the pitcher turned to pick; but as he came around the runner had made a break for third, he stopped his motion to 2B, reset and threw to 3B.

Pitchers only have to throw to 1B, if they start to throw over there. They do not have to complete an attempt to 2B or 3B.  He could stop, reset himself and throw to third, or not throw at all.

There is wording in the Little League rule book, Rule 8.05d which says:  An illegal pitch, or balk in Junior seniors is when the pitcher, while touching the plate, throws or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play.

A pitcher can throw, or not throw to any base, if they first step back off the pitching plate.  Once they step back, they become an infielder, no longer a pitcher.

Right handed pitchers, when picking at second, step back with their foot as their first movement.  Once they have done that, they are an infielder.  Should the move be a step over, their pivot foot would not go back; but they still would not need to throw the ball, and could still stop their motion and throw to 3B, as they would be making a play on the runner.

I hope this helps!  If the situation did not play out as I thought, please send additional details and we'll take another run at it.

Yours in baseball,

Rick