Scenario: 1 out. Runner on 1st. 2 strikes on batter. Batter swings and misses low pitch which the catcher fields cleanly after it bounces off the ground. Is the batter out or may he attempt to advance to first?

Answer: The batter is out. A batter is out and may not advance when first base is occupied AND there are fewer than 2 outs. Conversely, a batter may advance when either first base is unoccupied OR there are two outs. Note: although the rule is commonly called the 'dropped' third strike rule, 'dropped' in this case means any pitch which isn't caught 'in flight'. In other words, had first base been unoccupied or there were two outs in our scenario, the batter would be able to advance because the pitch bounced and therefore not caught in flight.

References: 2015 Official Baseball Rules, section 5.09(a)(3) A batter is out when: a third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied before two are out. Also, 2015 Official Baseball Rules, section 5.05(a)(2) The batter becomes a runner when: the third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out.