If a pitcher defaces a ball:

• A. The ball is dead immediately.
• B. He may be ejected by the umpire.
• C. If he delivers a pitch with the defaced ball and detected, it is an illegal pitch.
• D. A, B and C.

Answer: (D)

Defacing a ball is treated as a serious rule violation that ends any ongoing play and triggers penalties to maintain fair play. The moment tampering is detected, the ball is ruled dead to stop the action and prevent any advantage from the altered ball. The umpire may eject the pitcher for this misconduct, reflecting its intentional nature and impact on the game. If the pitcher still delivers a pitch using the defaced ball and the infraction is detected, that pitch is ruled illegal, carrying its own penalties. Since all of these outcomes can occur in response to defacing a ball, the combination of consequences described is the correct understanding.