Under which circumstance is the pitcher considered to be in the wind-up position?

• A. The non-pivot foot is on or behind the line extending through the front edge of the plate.
• B. The non-pivot foot is ahead of the line extending through the front edge of the plate.
• C. Both feet are on the rubber.
• D. The batter is in the box.

Answer: (A)

In this context, the wind-up position is defined by where the non-pivot foot is placed relative to the line that extends through the front edge of home plate. If that non-pivot foot is on or behind that line, the pitcher is in the wind-up. This setup allows the pitcher to take a longer, more deliberate motion before delivering the ball. If the non-pivot foot is ahead of that line, the pitcher is in the set position, which is used for quicker deliveries often with baserunners. The option about both feet on the rubber isn’t what marks wind-up, and the batter’s position has no bearing on whether the pitcher is in the wind-up.