Checked Swing

A checked swing is when the batter swings but stops before the ball reaches the batting zone. The checked swing is done to avoid swinging at a pitch thought to be out of the strike zone.

How Does It Happen?

A checked swing occurs when a batter will start to swing his bat towards the ball. However, he will stop the swing so the ball will pass without making contact with the bat. If the bat did not make contact with the ball and it did not go through the strike zone, the pitch will count as a ball. However, if the swing is not a checked swing, the pitch will count as a strike if there is no contact with the ball.

How to Determine If It Is A Checked Swing?

To determine whether or not it is a checked swing, the decision of the umpire matters. As there is no specific rule regarding this under the Major Baseball League, the umpire has to consider many factors like when the bat passes the front of the plate, or the batter pulls his wrists back. Concerning the wrist, if the umpire believes the batter’s wrists rolled over, there is a checked swing.

Per the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, a checked swing can also happen if the bat crosses the batter’s front hip.

Whose Responsibility Is It to Assess A Checked Swing?

The plate umpire has the responsibility to determine whether a batter makes a checked swing. The best way for the plate umpire to call a checked swing is by pointing his left index finger towards the batter. With the plate umpire’s right hand, he must make the strike sign. He will then have to call “Yes, he went!” or “That’s a swing!”

Appeal

If the plate umpire ruled the pitch a ball, no other team member could appeal. So, an appeal is only requested by the plate umpire to the base umpire. The base umpire will then have to see whether or not it was a checked swing. To successfully assist in an appeal, the base umpire should always watch the batter closely.