Following a home run, if the catcher reports that the bat rattled and shows it to the plate umpire, which outcome is correct?

• A. The home run will be negated and the previous batter will be declared out.
• B. The home run will be negated and the previous batter will be returned to bat.
• C. Unless the umpire knows that the bat previously rattled, he must assume that the bat became illegal because of the contact with the pitch. The home run will count and the bat will be removed from the game.
• D. The home run will be negated and both batters will be declared out.

Answer: (C)

When a catcher reports that a bat rattled after a pitch and shows it to the plate umpire, the important point is how the bat’s illegality is established. The umpire should not automatically void a home run just because the bat rattled; there must be proof that the bat was illegal before the pitch. If there’s no known prior rattling, the default is to assume the rattling occurred due to the contact with the pitch, the home run counts, and the bat is removed from the game. This keeps the play fair while still addressing a potentially dangerous bat.

So, the correct outcome is that the home run stands and the bat is removed from the game. The other options would only apply if there was clear, pre-pitch evidence that the bat was illegal.