The improper batter becomes the proper batter and the results of his time at bat are legal when no appeal is made and:

• A. A legal pitch has been delivered to the next batter.
• B. An illegal pitch has occurred.
• C. A, B and C.
• D. The defense appeals immediately.

Answer: (C)

When a batter has batted out of order, the only way to fix it without penalties is an appeal by the defense. If no appeal is made, the improper batter can be treated as the proper batter and the results of his time at bat can stand, but this depends on what happens in the sequence of play after the misstep.

If a legal pitch is delivered to the next batter, play continues and the improper batter’s time at bat is considered legal because the league’s order correction isn’t being invoked at that moment. Similarly, if an illegal pitch occurs, the situation still moves forward under the prevailing rules, and the improper batter’s at-bat is allowed to stand as legal unless the defense makes an immediate appeal. In other words, without an appeal, the hand-off to the next batter or the occurrence of an unlawful pitch can result in the improper batter being treated as proper and his at-bat finalization being legal.

If the defense appeals immediately, that stops the play and the proper batter is placed in the lineup, negating the improper batter’s advantage. So the scenario described—no appeal being made and the play progressing with either a legal pitch to the next batter or an illegal pitch occurring—is what preserves the legality of the improper batter’s at-bat, which is why that option is correct.