Baseball Reference Glossary

Balk

What is a Balk in baseball?

A balk, also known as the disengagement rule, is a rule relating to how pitchers must act on the mount when there are runners on base during an at bat. The rules for a balk in baseball guides how a pitcher is allowed to attempt to throw out runners who are taking a lead before a pitch is thrown.

The baseball balk rules, as defined by the rulebook, cover “an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base, entitling all runners to advance one base.” In other words, if a pitcher commits a balk, the runners on base get to advance.

How are Balks called?

Balks are called by umpires and often involve minute or subtle movements, making them one of the most difficult rules for fans to understand.

As far as what constitutes a Balk in baseball, the rulebook outlines 13 specific actions that count as balks. A balk is called if the pitcher:

  1. Starts his pitching motion without completing the pitch;
  2. Fakes a throw to first base;
  3. While standing on the rubber, throws to a base without stepping directly toward that base;
  4. While standing on the rubber, throws or fakes a throw to an unoccupied base, unless a runner is running toward that base;
  5. Makes an illegal pitch, including a quick pitch;
  6. Pitches while not facing the batter;
  7. Makes any part of his pitching motion while not touching the pitching rubber;
  8. Unnecessarily delays the game;
  9. Stands on or astride the pitching rubber without the ball;
  10. After assuming the windup or set position, removes one hand from the ball except in the course of making a pitch or throw to a base;
  11. Drops the ball while standing on the pitching rubber;
  12. Pitches while the catcher is not in the catcher’s box;
  13. Pitches from the set position without coming to a complete stop.

How to score a Balk?

If you’re keeping score, use BK to record a balk on your scorecard.

Balk Examples and History

Some interesting examples of balks include balks being called on balls in play. If a balk occured on a play where the ball was hit into play, the balk is only awarded if, as a result of the batted ball, the batter and baserunners do not all advance at least one base.

Additionally, it is possible to for the pitcher to be called for a balk, even with no runners on base. In that case, the hitter is awarded with a ball.

The balk rule was somewhat laxly enforced in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. In 2013, the Rules Committee added the “fake to third, throw to first” play to the list of balk actions.

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