An improper batter is discovered at bat with a count of 1-2. Which action is correct?

• A. Only the defense can appeal or discover the infraction.
• B. The improper batter shall be declared out and the proper batter will come to bat.
• C. The proper batter will replace the improper batter with the 1-2 count.
• D. The improper batter shall be declared out and restricted to the bench.

Answer: (C)

When an improper batter is at the plate, the at-bat is continued by replacing that batter with the proper batter, but with the same count that existed at the moment the infraction was discovered. In this situation, the count is 1-2, so the proper batter steps in to bat with the count remaining 1-2. This keeps the existing at-bat intact and penalizes the team for the illegal batter without altering the progress of the plate appearance.

The other options would either reset the at-bat or remove the at-bat entirely in ways the rules don’t permit. Declaring the improp­er batter out but not preserving the count would change the outcome of the at-bat. Declaring the improp­er batter out and sending the proper batter to the bench or with a fresh count also doesn’t reflect the correct remedy.