Bat hits ball second time

Question
QUESTION: Mark can you explain the ruling on bat hitting ball second time. Batter hit ball and drops bat in fair territory and ball strikes bat  second time. Is that dead ball b-r out? Other runners can not advance? tx

ANSWER: Hi Chris,

this is from our rules supplement

If the bat is out of the batter抯 hands, dropped or thrown, and it hits the
ball a second time in fair territory, the ball is dead and the batter-runner
is out. However, if the BALL hits the bat on the ground, the batter is
not out and the umpire must then determine whether the ball is fair or
foul based on the fair / foul rule. If the ball rolls against the bat in fair
territory, the ball remains live. If the ball stops or is touched in fair territory,
it is a fair ball. If the ball touches the bat in fair territory and then
rolls to foul ground and stops, it is a foul ball. If the ball rolls against
the bat in foul territory, it is a foul ball.


So if THE BAT hits the ball in fair territory, dead ball, batter out, runners return to last base at time of pitch

If THE BALL hits the bat in fair territory and the ball stays in fair territory, live ball, play on

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mark, If batter hits ball second time with bat in hands and ball is hit in fair territory is b-r out? Tx

Answer
Hi Chris,

no most likely a foul ball

RS 24. HITTING THE BALL A SECOND TIME.
When considering the act of a batter hitting the pitched ball a second time,
umpires should place the act into one of three categories.
A. If the bat is in the hands of the batter when the ball comes in contact
with bat, and the batter is in the batter抯 box, it is a foul ball. If, when
the bat contacts the ball a batter抯 entire foot is completely outside the
batter抯 box, the batter is out. When in doubt, don抰 guess the batter
out. Call a foul ball.


Mark