Misunderstood Baseball rules - uncaught/ dropped third strike

What does a dropped third strike mean to the batter, catcher, and runners on base?
(Please note: This channel was previously called "Umpire Zone" but has since been rebranded. However, most of my umpire-related content is still relevant and I want to keep it available on this channel)

[@braxtonschieler7455]

Super helpful for trying to learn this rule before I start umpiring. Thank you!

[@coppcastle2856]

Happy to help you understand! Best of luck this season!

[@johnmoore1495]

Thank you for explaining it, after watching game 5 of the Braves vs Cardinals I was so confused. The announcers did not explain it at all. Everyone making highlight videos didn’t explain it. Wasn’t until I Googled it a few times that I found the rule and found your video. I played baseball through high school and watch the MLB casually, I had never seen it or heard of it until this game. I’m assuming that’s because it’s rare for a strike to actually get that far away from a catcher thus runners never go and most runners don’t even know/realize the rule and the situation.

[@robertperkins246]

Wow, runners at least attempt to run to first on dropped 3rd in almost every single mlb game I’ve ever watched. Very low success rate. Happens in hs fairly often as catchers don’t block pitches nearly as well. Makes me question did you really play? If so, you must have rode the bench because every hitter knows this rule by age 12!!

[@johnmoore1495]

@@robertperkins246 okay boomer

[@deplorable_bitter_clinger7482]

The official name is Uncaught Third Strike, not dropped. "An 'uncaught' strike includes not only pitches dropped by the catcher, but also pitches that hit the ground before the catcher attempts to catch it". This comes from one of the early rules of baseball that for a strike three out call, the pitched ball must be cleanly caught by the catcher. If a pitch bounces before it reaches the plate that is an Uncaught Third Strike, just as much as if the catcher had dropped the ball.

[@coppcastle2856]

Thank you for your comment. As mentioned in a prior comment thread, I will try to use less colloquial terminology. After all, I still grit my teeth a little whenever I hear of an umpire being hit by a foul tip! 😁🤣

[@thomash.l.9382]

lol no shit. Thanks for clearing up that unnecessary semantic.

[@robertperkins246]

Commonly known as “dropped” third strike….nobody calls it “uncaught” third strike.

[@rayray4192]

@@robertperkins246Read definition of terms.

[@mbarnett865]

This is the wording from the HS rulebook - which seems to indicate that the batter/runner has to go much further than the home plate circle to be considered "giving himself up". Please advise. "i. on a dropped third strike, he gives up by entering the bench or dugout area, or with two outs he does not attempt to reach first base before all infielders leave the diamond at the end of the half-inning;" 2022 NFHS Baseball Rules Book - NFHS © 2021

[@bmac2531]

Best explanation I’ve heard. Thanks!!

[@nickdawg1014]

Great explanation. Got right to the point, and explained it very well

[@MrMW2nd]

So as long as nobody is on first, you can have infinite strikeouts?

[@Lava1964]

Yes. I believe there have been cases in the minor league where pitchers have recorded five strikeouts in an inning.

[@39jimmyjam]

We use uncaught/dropped 3rd strike in the little league I coach in. I was told that the batter/runner wasn't out until he reaches the dugout not just leaving the dirt circle, as long as he established a direct path to 1st base from wherever he takes off running from between home plate and the dugout. Is it just an out if you leave the dirt circle in leagues above little league?

[@coppcastle2856]

The old rule is that once the BR reaches the dugout he is out. I myself did not officiate little league games. My understanding is there was no uncaught third strike rule. But if that is the rule that your league established then that's it.

[@alanhess9306]

@@coppcastle2856 The ML rule says the the batter is out if he leaves the dirt circle, which is what you said in the video. The NFHS rule says the batter is out when he gives up by entering the bench or dugout area, or with two outs he does not attempt to reach first base before all infielders leave the diamond at the end of the half-inning;

[@bradwarren8833]

Is it possible to call you regarding a scenario that happened to me as an umpire? It involves bunting and a drop third strike. Thanks

[@johnmoore1495]

Question, so even if there’s a runner on 1st and there’s either 1 or no outs. Can the batter on a dropped 3rd strike still run if the runner on 1st chooses to run to 2nd? Because technically you can steal on a strike at which point that would free up 1st base. I get that the 1st base runner is guaranteed safe on 1st base to avoid cheesy plays but can they choose to run to 2nd and then risk a double play?

[@JP-ib9kk]

I saw no one answered. First base has to be unoccupied before the pitcher comes set. Therefore even if the runner stole second on the pitch (vacating the bag) the batter cannot run there if there are less than 2 outs. The runner on first can advance on a ball in the dirt if he/she chooses

[@robertperkins246]

JP is correct. The bag has to be vacant before the pitch. I’m scared when someone has to explain the infield fly rule can be called…..even if the ball is in the outfield!!!

[@nativebutnotofthisworld9792]

Clarification... the ball has to hit the glove first or his hand... if it hits anything else it is an uncaught even if he catches it after the rebound.

[@alanhess9306]

Native ButNotOfThisWorld , The pitch does not have to hit his hand or glove first. If it hits his chest protector and is held it is a caught third strike. Sounds to me like you are confusing the rule on a foul tip with the rule on an uncaught third strike.

[@asdfjkl14352]

if the ball hits the ground before the catcher makes a legal catch?? - a legal catch is defined as taking secure possession - my question is if the ball bounces before getting to the plate the batter can still legally hit the ball so if he swings and misses and the catcher takes secure possession how is that not a legal catch and why would it make difference where the ball contacts the ground - before or after the plate?

[@coppcastle2856]

Rules 5.0.5 and 5.0.9 cover this situation in the official rules. If the ball has hit the dirt, it cannot be caught. Therefore, if the batter swings and misses, it is strike 3 but he can attempt to go to 1st. It doesn't matter whether the ball hits the dirt before or after the plate, or even the plate itself. However, if the batter makes contact with the ball, it CAN be caught as a foul tip, or as a fair or foul fly ball/line drive. Again, the same rules has a comment on this situation. mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf

[@davidstrotherssr.1683]

It's a strike if he misses, depending on how many outs and if first base is occupied

[@davidstrotherssr.1683]

It's a strike,legally the ball must be inflight to be called a strike.

[@edcortes5764]

In baseball, a "pitch" is treated differently than a "throw". In order for the pitch to be legally caught, it must be caught "in flight", which means if it touches the ground, it is no longer in flight. Since it's not a "catch", it becomes an "uncaught" third strike, which changes the status of the "batter" to a "runner", and is put in jeopardy of being put out by a tag, a fielder touching first base before he reaches, interference, etc.

[@37running]

What happens with a dropped 3rd strike and fan interference?

[@coppcastle2856]

If the fan interference prevents an out in the judgment of the umpire, Rule 9.02a can be used to record an out and place any runners as needed. A situation like this would be if the ball is handled in live ball territory.

[@parthasarathibiswas1616]

Will the batter still be striked out

[@coppcastle2856]

Yes both pitcher and batter get a K

[@parthasarathibiswas1616]

Do you have Facebook or something. I just moved to USA and want to understand baseball well so that I became familiar with this sport

[@stevedandy973]

Fans, MLB announcers, and this guy call it the "dropped third strike." It is really an UNCAUGHT third strike. "Dropped" IMPLIES the ball is caught. No.

[@stevedandy973]

Also, the U3S is now at the Little League (Majors) level.

[@coppcastle2856]

@@stevedandy973 That is good to know. I have not officiated a little league game in almost 7 years but I am glad that rule exists at that level to help prepare the kids for the 90' diamond.

[@coppcastle2856]

Agreed. The rules are clear on that and I will seek to use less colloquial terms in the future. Thank you for your comments Steve!

[@stevedandy973]

Umpirezone - Just trying to help out. God knows MLB announcers pass out WRONG information. Also, there is "intermediate" baseball now. The field has 70' baselines and the pitcher's plate is 50' away.

[@sportbrothers8040]

I’m 10 and I do that rule in my league

[@robertperkins246]

This rule should be known by any 12 year old little leaguer on! Any “confusion” beyond is for casual fans and kids that parents make play. Anybody serious player make this mistake should immediately be benched!!

[@tedbierbaueriii3492]

Uncaught dropped? Redundant much

[@michaelwilber774]

Rep Kansas city

[@ironlionzion1380]

Stupid, stupid, stupid rule which rewards players for intentionally playing worse. So a player is rewarded by striking out, but not on a first or second strike or a ball. Imagine an 0-2 count and the pitcher throws a wild pitch. In the batter's best interest is not to do the right thing (taking the pitch) but to actually intentionally swing and miss (obviously with no chance of hitting the ball) and strike out, because by striking out he will be able to reach first, but not if the count is 1-2. Striking out is a very negative outcome which should never reward the batter with anything. This rule together with the tagging on a foul ball (where an outfielder is encouraged not to catch the ball when a winning run is on third base and less than two outs) are two idiotic rules that should have long been abolished, but for some reason MLB is being super conservative and maintains this farce.

[@justinburgan4184]

Why are you saying that doesn't apply on 1-2 count? It doesn't matter if it's a full count or 0-2 from my understanding.

[@ironlionzion1380]

@@justinburgan4184 Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. 0-2 was just an example, but it also applies with 1-2 and 2-2 counts (on 3-2 the wild pitch would result in a walk). What I meant is that on an 0-2 count, if the batter takes the wild pitch then the count is 1-2 (a better outcome than a strikeout) and yet despite doing the right thing he cannot advance to first base. But if he does the wrong thing (swings and misses) then he can. This is a farce.

[@justinburgan4184]

@@ironlionzion1380 oh ok. I'm picking up what you are laying down.

[@travisasa01]

I wonder why we don't see that more often. It's a very coachable occurence...

[@bobh6728]

@@travisasa01 Because you don’t know it is a wild pitch until the catcher misses it. So unless the pitch is sailing way over the catcher’s head, the batter is going to look pretty bad swinging at a potential wild pitch and have the catcher either catch it or at least knock it down and throw the batter out. Also, it the pitcher does air mail the pitch to the backstop, why shouldn’t the batter get a chance to go to first by swinging. Otherwise, the pitcher made a horrendous pitch will no consequence other than a ball being called.

[@rayray4192]

Wrong, but thanks for playing. A catch is a securely held fly ball. It’s impossible to “ catch” a pitch because it’s not a fly ball. A pitch is nothing like a fly ball.

[@mjb2424]

You're trying to complicate an easy deal... Catch it cleanly or it's a live ball!