What happens if the pitcher runs illegally toward the plate?

• A. An illegal pitch or balk penalty is applied, and runners may advance.
• B. The pitch counts as a strike.
• C. The batter is awarded first base.
• D. The defense gets an out.

Answer: (A)

When a pitcher illegally moves toward the plate, the action is ruled a balk. The pitch is dead, no pitch is delivered, and the count on the batter stays the same. Runners on base may advance one base, and play resumes with a legal pitch from the pitcher. The defense does not get an out solely from the balk.

This rule prevents the pitcher from gaining an unfair advantage with illegal motions and keeps the delivery fair for the batter and baserunners. The other outcomes listed don’t fit because a balk isn’t counted as a strike, doesn’t automatically award the batter first base, and doesn’t by itself yield an out for the defense.