A balk is a listed pitching violation with runners on base.

The rule and version used here

This page uses Major League Baseball’s 2026 Official Baseball Rules (OBR), issued by the Office of the Commissioner, especially Rules 5.07 and 6.02(a), plus MLB’s current pitch-timer regulation. The 2026 OBR change summary does not amend the balk provisions.

The OBR is the professional baseline, not a universal baseball code. NCAA, Little League and individual professional-development competitions can use different definitions or supplemental regulations; the important current differences are separated below.

How to analyse a suspected balk

1. Check the bases. Rule 6.02(a) requires at least one runner.
2. Locate the pivot foot. Was the pitcher engaged with the pitcher’s plate or legally disengaged?
3. Name the position. Windup and Set Position have different permitted movements.
4. Identify the precise act. Match it to one of Rule 6.02(a)’s listed violations or MLB’s disengagement limit.
5. Let immediate action finish when required. A pitch or wild throw can affect enforcement.
6. Apply the outcome test. Did the batter reach first and did every other runner advance at least one base?

Windup and set are both permitted with runners on

OBR 5.07(a) recognizes two legal pitching positions. In the Windup Position, a natural movement associated with the delivery commits the pitcher to pitch without interruption or alteration. The pitcher may instead step and throw to a base in a pickoff attempt, or disengage correctly with the pivot foot first.

In the Set Position, the pitcher faces the batter, has the pivot foot in contact with the plate and the other foot in front, holds the ball in both hands in front of the body, and comes to a complete stop. From there the pitcher may pitch, throw to a base, or step backward off the plate with the pivot foot.

Stepping off changes the pitcher’s legal status

Many pickoff arguments turn on one fact: was the pivot foot still touching the pitcher’s plate? To disengage legally, the pitcher steps backward off the plate with the pivot foot. Under OBR 5.07(e), the pitcher then becomes an infielder and may throw to any base; a wild throw is treated as an infielder’s throw rather than a pitch or an engaged-pitcher throw.

Disengaging does not license a fake pitch. Rule 6.02(a)(9) makes it a balk for a pitcher off the plate to feint a pitch. Conversely, restrictions specifically tied to throwing or feinting while touching the plate must not be imported into an already-disengaged throw.

OBR 6.02(a) specifies thirteen balk acts

With a runner or runners on base, the 2026 rule calls a balk when the pitcher:

1. While touching the plate, starts a motion naturally associated with the pitch but does not deliver.
2. While touching the plate, feints a throw to first or third and does not complete the throw.
3. While touching the plate, throws to a base without first stepping directly toward it.
4. While touching the plate, throws or feints to an unoccupied base without making a play.
5. Makes an illegal pitch, including a quick pitch.
6. Delivers while not facing the batter.
7. Makes a motion naturally associated with the pitch while not touching the plate.
8. Unnecessarily delays the game.
9. Without the ball, stands on or astride the plate, or while off the plate feints a pitch.
10. After coming to a legal pitching position, separates the hands except to pitch or throw to a base.
11. While touching the plate, intentionally or accidentally lets the ball slip or fall from the hand or glove.
12. During a pitched intentional walk, delivers while the catcher is outside the catcher’s box.
13. Delivers from Set Position without coming to a stop.

Rules 5.02(a) and 5.07 add the linked catcher-position and legal-delivery requirements. MLB’s disengagement regulation adds another route to a balk in Major League play.

First, second and third do not have identical rules

While touching the plate, the pitcher must step directly toward a base before throwing there; OBR 5.07(d) says the step must come ahead of the throw. A snap throw followed by the step is a balk. Once the free foot passes the back edge of the plate in the delivery, Rule 6.02(a)(1) generally commits the pitcher to home, with an exception for a pickoff throw to second.

• First or third: an engaged pitcher may not feint and fail to throw.
• Second: an engaged pitcher may legally feint. A complete turn from first toward second is also legal if there is no hesitation toward first.
• Unoccupied base: a throw or feint is legal when made for the purpose of a play. The umpire considers whether a runner has shown or created the impression of an attempt to advance there.

“The base was empty” therefore does not settle the ruling. A runner breaking from first makes second a legitimate place to attempt a play.

A start-stop and a no-stop are different violations

A start-stop occurs when an engaged pitcher makes a natural movement associated with the pitch and fails to deliver, contrary to OBR 6.02(a)(1). A no-stop occurs when a pitcher delivers from Set Position without the complete stop required by Rules 5.07(a)(2) and 6.02(a)(13).

There is no fixed number of seconds in the OBR definition of the stop. The umpire must be able to distinguish a stop from one continuous change of direction. With the bases empty, a pitcher using Set Position is not required to make that stop, although a delivery intended to catch an unready batter can still be an illegal quick pitch and be called a ball.

Deception explains the rule; it does not replace the list

The comment to OBR 6.02(a) says the purpose is to prevent deliberate deception of a runner and directs the umpire to consider intent when genuinely in doubt. It also gives specific interpretations, such as treating straddling the plate without the ball as intent to deceive.

That does not mean every move that fools a runner is illegal. A legal move to first can be extremely effective, and a feint to second can be legal. Nor must an umpire prove a pitcher’s private motive before enforcing a specific act such as failing to stop or dropping the ball while touching the plate. The listed mechanics and the umpire’s observation control the call.

A third disengagement must produce an out

MLB’s pitch-timer regulation allows two disengagements—pickoff attempts or step-offs—per plate appearance without penalty. The count resets if any runner advances. On a third or later disengagement, the defense must record an out on a runner; otherwise the violation is a balk and runners advance.

A mound visit, injury timeout or offensive timeout does not count as a disengagement. This competition regulation is separate from the thirteen acts printed in OBR 6.02(a), so a pitcher can make mechanically legal moves yet still incur a balk by exceeding MLB’s disengagement limit.

One-base award first, then test the continuing play

The Rule 6.02(a) penalty is a dead ball and one base for each runner, without liability to be put out. The award is from the base occupied when the balk occurred. A balk alone gives the batter no base: with the bases loaded, for example, the runner from third scores, the other runners move up one base, and the batter resumes the plate appearance.

When the pitcher completes a pitch or makes a wild throw immediately after the balk, the umpire may need to let the action develop before calling “Time.” If the batter reaches first on a hit, error, walk, hit batter or otherwise and every other runner advances at least one base, the play proceeds without reference to the balk. If that complete test is not met, the balk award is enforced and the pitch is nullified.

A runner may try for more than the one awarded base after a wild throw, but the extra advance is at the runner’s own risk. The approved ruling also treats a runner later called out on appeal for missing the first base of the advance as having advanced one base for this enforcement test.

Not every interrupted delivery is charged to the pitcher

OBR 5.04(b)(2) addresses the awkward case in which a batter inadvertently causes the pitcher to interrupt a delivery after the windup has started or the pitcher has come set. The umpire calls “Time,” does not call a balk, and starts the sequence again. The batter cannot manufacture a one-base award by stepping out after the pitcher is committed.

This is distinct from a pitcher independently stopping because a runner moved or because the pitcher changed plans. Without batter-caused interruption or another lawful reason for time, the pitcher remains responsible for completing the committed action.

The balk judgment itself is not an MLB replay category

MLB’s current Replay Review page lists reviewable calls and does not include balks. A manager can ask the crew to discuss rule application, but video review is not used to decide whether the pitcher stopped, stepped directly or began the delivery. A separate reviewable event during continuing action—such as a tag play or boundary call—can still be reviewed under its own criteria.

The runner advances, but the batter is out

Situation: with a runner on first, the pitcher fails to stop, delivers, and the batter grounds out while the runner reaches second.

MLB 2026 ruling: enforce the balk. The runner is awarded second, the pitch is nullified and the batter resumes the prior count. The live result cannot replace the balk because the batter did not reach first.

A single satisfies the complete advance test

Situation: with runners on first and third, the pitcher balks during the delivery. The batter singles, the runner from third scores and the runner from first reaches second.

MLB 2026 ruling: the play stands without reference to the balk. The batter reached first and both existing runners advanced at least one base. The offence does not choose between the play and the balk; Rule 6.02(a)’s test supplies the result.

A wild pickoff throw permits an extra base

Situation: with a runner on first, the pitcher balks and throws the pickoff attempt into foul territory, but the ball stays in play. The runner passes second and reaches third safely.

MLB 2026 ruling: the runner may remain at third. Second was protected by the balk award; the advance beyond second was at the runner’s own risk under Rule 6.02(a)’s approved ruling.

A throw to an empty second base can be legal

Situation: a runner on first breaks for second. The engaged pitcher steps directly toward second and throws before the runner arrives.

MLB 2026 ruling: no balk merely because second was unoccupied at the instant of the throw. The pitcher was making a play on an advancing runner, which is the Rule 6.02(a)(4) exception.

The third pickoff succeeds

Situation: in an MLB game, the pitcher has already disengaged twice during the plate appearance, then makes a third pickoff attempt and tags the runner out.

MLB 2026 ruling: the out stands and there is no disengagement balk. If that attempt had not recorded an out, the third disengagement would have produced a balk. The disengagement count resets if a runner advances before another disengagement.

College, youth and the Minors must be checked separately

• NCAA 2025–26: Rule 9-3 has its own list and terminology. Notable college provisions include a balk when a pitcher without the ball places either foot anywhere on the dirt mound area during a hidden-ball attempt, more than one stop from Set Position, and more than two arm pumps from the windup. Its penalty and continuing-play tests are stated separately in Rule 9-3. NCAA’s April 28, 2026 interpretation also reinforces that, with runners on, the usual foot alignment is presumed to be Set Position unless the pitcher declares the windup before the at-bat.
• Little League 2026: balks apply in the Intermediate (50/70), Junior and Senior Baseball divisions. Little League’s official guidance says a balk is not called in Major Division and below; those divisions use their illegal-pitch rule instead.
• Double-A in 2026: MLB reduced the experimental disengagement limit from two to one at that level. That experiment does not change the two-disengagement Major League rule.

Local leagues and tournaments may adopt another code or modification. Identify the rulebook named in the competition regulations before transferring an MLB ruling.

Six shortcuts that give the wrong answer

• “Any deceptive move is a balk.” Legal pickoff moves can deceive; match the action to the rule.
• “The pitcher must be touching the rubber for every balk.” Rule 6.02(a) also covers a fake pitch while off the plate and particular no-ball conduct.
• “A balk always stops everything instantly.” A completed pitch or wild throw may require delayed enforcement.
• “If the runner advanced, ignore the balk.” The batter must reach first and every other runner must advance at least one base.
• “A throw to an empty base is always illegal.” It is permitted when making a play.
• “MLB’s rule applies at every youth or college game.” NCAA and Little League use their own codes.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• Office of the Commissioner of Baseball — 2026 Official Baseball Rules, Rules 5.02, 5.04(b)(2), 5.07 and 6.02(a)
• Major League Baseball — current Pitch Timer regulation, disengagement limits
• Major League Baseball — current Replay Review categories
• Major League Baseball — 2026 Minor League experimental rules, Double-A disengagement limit
• NCAA — 2025 and 2026 Baseball Rules Book, Rules 9-1 and 9-3
• NCAA — 2025–26 Baseball Playing Rules Interpretations and Clarifications, April 28, 2026
• Little League Baseball — balk division scope and Rule 8.05 guidance
• Little League Baseball — Rulebook App updated for the 2026 season

Checked against the MLB 2026 OBR and current MLB competition guidance, plus the NCAA 2025–26 rulebook and April 2026 interpretations and Little League’s 2026 rules resources. MLB pitch-timer and Minor League experimental regulations supplement the printed OBR; other leagues and tournaments may add their own provisions.