Scenario: While facing the first batter of game, the home team’s starting pitcher suffers a knee injury and has to be replaced. The batter has a full count when the new pitcher enters the game.
As the official scorer, you must choose whether the original pitcher’s statistics or the new pitcher’s statistics will be affected, based on what the outcome is of the plate appearance. Which of the following is true?
A - A strike-out and a walk would be assigned to the original pitcher.
B – A strike-out would be credited to the original pitcher but a walk would be charged to the new pitcher.
C - A strike-out would be credited to the new pitcher but a walk would be charged to the original pitcher.
D – A strike-out and a walk would be assigned to the new pitcher.
Highlight the text below to reveal the answer:
Answer: C – A strike-out would be charged to the new pitcher but a walk would be charged to the original pitcher.
Rule 10.16(f)(1) states:
If, when pitchers are changed, the count is
2 balls, no strike,
2 balls, 1 strike,
3 balls, no strike,
3 balls, 1 strike,
3 balls, 2 strikes,
and the batter gets a base on balls, the official scorer shall charge that batter and the base on balls to the preceding pitcher, not to the relief pitcher.
Rule 10.16(f)(2) states:
Any other action by such batter … shall cause such a batter to be charged to the relief pitcher.
