Obstruction of a batter is ignored if which conditions are met?

• A. The batter-runner reaches first base.
• B. All other runners advance at least one base.
• C. Both A and B.
• D. Obstruction of a batter can never be ignored.

Answer: (C)

Obstruction is ignored when it wouldn’t change the outcome of the play. Specifically, if the batter-runner would have reached first base safely even without the obstruction, and every other runner would have advanced at least one base, then there’s no need to award extra bases or make a penalty call. The play would have ended the same way regardless of the obstruction, so the umpire leaves the results as they would have been.

For example, with runners on first and second, a fielder illegally blocks the batter-runner heading to first. If the batter-runner would have reached first safely anyway, and the runner on first advances to second and the runner on second advances to third on the play, the obstruction is ignored. The same base statuses occur as if there were no obstruction.

If either condition isn’t met—if the batter-runner wouldn’t have reached first safely, or not all runners would have advanced—then the obstruction isn’t ignored, and the rule’s remedy would apply to reflect the hindrance.