If a batted ball is fouled off into the stands, which of the following is true?

• A. It is a foul ball and counts toward the strike count (if applicable).
• B. It becomes a fair ball when it lands in the stands.
• C. It is a dead ball and does not affect the count.
• D. The umpire awards a new ball.

Answer: (D)

When a batted ball is fouled off into the stands, the play is stopped and the ball is dead. That foul ball still affects the at-bat according to the foul-ball rule (it can add to the strike count if applicable), but the key immediate action for the next pitch is that the umpire provides a fresh ball. So the correct statement is that a new ball is put into play for the next pitch. The other options either misstate the outcome (it’s not automatically a fair ball) or ignore the fact that a new ball is used after a foul ball into the stands.