The proper batter—not automatically the wrong batter—is out on a timely appeal.

The ruleset used on this page

This page applies the 2026 Official Baseball Rules (OBR) issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, especially Rule 6.03(b), “Batting Out of Turn.” The rulebook's foreword says the code governs Major League Baseball and leagues in MLB's professional development league system. The 2026 summary of changes does not list an amendment to Rule 6.03(b).

This is not a universal rule for every form of baseball. NCAA, NFHS, Little League, WBSC competitions and local leagues use their own current rulebooks or competition regulations. Do not transfer the MLB result to one of those games without checking the rules appointed for that competition.

The official batting order controls

Under OBR 4.03(d), the lineup retained by the umpire becomes the official batting order when the cards are exchanged. OBR 5.04(a) requires players to bat in that sequence throughout the game. A legal substitute does not create a new slot: under OBR 5.04(a)(2) and 5.10(a), the substitute occupies the replaced player's batting-order position.

The proper batter is normally the player whose name follows the last batter who legally completed—or was later legalized as completing—a turn. The player who appears instead is the improper batter. The issue is sequence, not whether the player is otherwise eligible to be in the game.

Timing decides the entire ruling

1. Before the turn is complete: correct the batter and carry over the count; there is no batting-out-of-turn out.
2. After completion, before the deadline: the defence may appeal; the proper batter is out and the rule reverses specified consequences.
3. After the deadline: the improper batter's turn is legalized; its result stands and establishes which lineup position follows.

For Rule 6.03(b), the critical completion point is when the improper batter becomes a runner or is put out. Simply entering the box or receiving pitches does not complete the turn.

Either team can expose the mistake without an out

OBR 6.03(b)(2) allows the proper batter to enter at any time before the improper batter becomes a runner or is put out. The proper batter inherits every ball and strike already charged in that turn. It does not matter whether the offence notices its own error or the defence points it out.

The improper batter's swings are not erased from the count. If the count is 2–1, the proper batter continues at 2–1; if the improper batter already has two strikes, the proper batter takes over with two strikes.

After completion, the defence must ask for the ruling

Once the improper batter has become a runner or been put out, the offence cannot obtain the simple mid-turn correction. Under OBR 6.03(b)(1) and (3), the defensive team must appeal to the umpire before the first pitch to the next batter of either team, and before any intervening play or attempted play.

On a valid appeal, the umpire declares the proper batter out for failing to bat in turn. The improper batter is not given a second automatic out merely for taking the turn. OBR 6.03(b)(6) then makes the next proper batter the name following the proper batter who was called out.

Use cause, not a blanket “everything returns” rule

OBR 6.03(b)(3) nullifies an advance or score made because the improper batter batted the ball, or because that batter advanced to first on a hit, error, base on balls, hit batter or otherwise. The improper batter is removed from base. Runners are returned as needed to undo advances produced by the batted ball or the improper batter's award of first.

That includes forced movement caused by an improper batter reaching first. For example, if the bases are loaded and the improper batter walks, a timely appeal calls the proper batter out, removes the improper batter and nullifies the forced run.

Independent advances during the turn remain legal

OBR 6.03(b)(4) expressly preserves a runner's advance on a stolen base, balk, wild pitch or passed ball while the improper batter is at bat. Those events are separated from movement caused by the improper batter's completed turn.

A runner can therefore keep one advance and lose another in the same sequence. If a runner reaches second on a wild pitch and then reaches third on the improper batter's ground ball, a timely appeal leaves the runner at second: the wild-pitch advance survives, while the ground-ball advance does not. This matches the approved ruling printed with Rule 6.03(b).

A pitch, play or attempted play legalizes the turn

If the defence waits until after the first pitch to the next batter, or allows another play or attempted play first, the appeal is too late. OBR 6.03(b)(5) and the Rule 6.03(b)(7) Comment treat the improper batter as having batted in proper turn, so the completed result and its advances and scores become legal.

The order does not rewind to the skipped name. Under OBR 6.03(b)(7), the next proper batter is the player whose name follows the legalized improper batter. A pickoff attempt or other play is not a free opportunity to see what happens and then appeal: making that play passes the appeal deadline.

The deadline can extend across the inning break

The phrase “next batter of either team” matters when an improper turn ends a half-inning. Until the opposing side's leadoff batter receives a pitch—or another play or attempted play occurs—the defence can still appeal the previous half-inning's batting-order error.

The approved ruling to OBR 6.03(b) confirms the other side's first pitch can legalize the preceding turn. An inning ending does not itself erase the appeal, but the next half-inning cannot be allowed to progress and then be unwound later.

A proper batter already on base is passed over

A legalized sequence can produce the unusual situation in which the player now due to bat is still on base. The approved ruling to OBR 6.03(b) says that player is passed over and the following player becomes the proper batter. The runner does not leave the base to bat.

This exception is one reason to reconstruct the sequence from the official card rather than merely sending up whoever was originally skipped.

There is no automatic warning during the game

The Rule 6.03(b)(7) Comment directs the umpire not to alert anyone that an improper batter is in the box. Players and managers are responsible for monitoring the order. The umpire intervenes when the proper batter replaces the improper batter before completion or when the defence makes a timely appeal after completion.

That should not be confused with a defect spotted before the game begins: the Rule 4.03 Comment tells the umpire-in-chief to have obvious lineup-card errors corrected before “Play” is called. Once play is under way, batting out of turn follows the appeal structure above.

How to rule on a batting-order mistake

1. Use the umpire's official card. Apply all properly recorded substitutions to identify each occupied lineup spot.
2. Find the last legal or legalized turn. The following name is the proper batter, unless that player is currently on base.
3. Ask whether the improper turn is complete. If not, replace the batter and preserve the count.
4. If complete, test the appeal deadline. Was the defensive appeal made before the next pitch to either team and before a play or attempted play?
5. For a timely appeal, call the proper batter out. Remove the improper batter and reverse only advances and scores caused by the batted ball or the improper batter reaching first.
6. Preserve independent movement. Keep advances attributable to a steal, balk, wild pitch or passed ball.
7. Set the next hitter. After a timely appeal, follow the batter called out; after a late appeal, follow the legalized improper batter.

The wrong batter has a 2–1 count

Situation: the lineup is Abel–Baker–Charles. Baker bats first and has two balls and one strike when either team notices.

MLB OBR 2026 ruling: Abel replaces Baker with the 2–1 count. No one is out under the batting-out-of-turn rule because Baker had not become a runner or been put out. This is the first play in Rule 6.03(b)'s approved ruling.

A double is appealed immediately

Situation: Baker doubles when Abel is due. Before a pitch, play or attempted play, the defence appeals.

MLB OBR 2026 ruling: Abel is out, Baker is removed from second, and Baker is now the proper batter. The decisive facts are that Baker completed the wrong turn and the defence appealed before the deadline.

A wild-pitch advance and a ground-ball advance

Situation: while Edward bats in Daniel's turn, a runner moves from first to second on a wild pitch. Edward then grounds out and the runner reaches third. The defence immediately appeals.

MLB OBR 2026 ruling: Daniel is out for missing the turn; the runner remains at second. Rule 6.03(b)(4) preserves the wild-pitch advance, but Rule 6.03(b)(3) nullifies the move to third caused by Edward's batted ball.

The defence waits for another pitch

Situation: Baker doubles in Abel's turn. Charles then receives one pitch before the defence appeals.

MLB OBR 2026 ruling: the appeal is late. Baker stays on second, Baker's turn is legalized, and Charles is the proper batter. The first pitch to Charles closed the appeal window.

Five shortcuts that produce the wrong answer

• “The wrong batter is automatically out.” No: before completion there is only a correction; after a timely appeal the proper batter is out.
• “The umpire should stop the at-bat.” No: the Rule 6.03(b)(7) Comment places vigilance on the teams.
• “Every runner returns.” No: steals, balks, wild pitches and passed balls during the improper turn remain legal.
• “The skipped batter is always next.” No: the next hitter depends on whether the improper turn was appealed in time or legalized.
• “The defence can make a play and appeal afterward.” No: a play or attempted play closes the Rule 6.03(b) appeal window.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic used a different edition

World Baseball Classic, Inc. stated that the 2026 tournament used the 2025 Official Baseball Rules plus its published tournament supplements, not MLB's 2026 edition. The WBC supplement did not replace Rule 6.03(b), and the 2025 and 2026 OBR wording and approved batting-out-of-turn rulings are the same.

That does not make OBR universal. For college, school, youth or another international competition, identify the appointed rulebook and any tournament regulation before applying this page's appeal deadline or penalty.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• Office of the Commissioner of Baseball — 2026 Official Baseball Rules, Foreword; Rules 4.03(d), 5.04(a), 5.10(a)–(b) and 6.03(b), including Comment and Approved Ruling
• Major League Baseball — Batting Out of Turn glossary, current 2026 official explanation
• Office of the Commissioner of Baseball — 2025 Official Baseball Rules, Rule 6.03(b), the edition appointed for the 2026 World Baseball Classic
• World Baseball Classic, Inc. — 2026 World Baseball Classic rules and rule modifications, effective for the 2026 tournament

Checked on 26 August 2026 against the current MLB 2026 rulebook, its Rule 6.03(b) approved rulings and MLB's official live explanation. The WBC note was checked against its 2026 tournament rules and the appointed 2025 OBR. Other competitions may supplement or replace this professional-baseball baseline.