Rule sets / OBR / Catcher Outside Catcher's Box Balk
Catcher Outside Catcher's Box Balk
The catcher must have two feet in the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand during delivery.
When the ball is put in play at the start of or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory.
The catcher shall station himself directly back of the plate. He may leave his position at any time to catch a pitch or make a play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
*PENALTY:* Balk.
A BASE ON BALLS is an award of first base granted to a batter who, during his time at bat, receives four pitches outside the strike zone or following a signal from the defensive team's manager to the umpire that he intends to intentionally walk the batter. If the manager informs the umpire of this intention, the umpire shall award the batter first base as if the batter had received four pitches outside the strike zone.
If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher's box;
Video examples
By the strictest letter of the law, it appears that Cleveland catcher Roberto Pérez has one foot outside of the catcher's box prior to the ball leaving the pitcher's hand.
Catcher Tony Pena appears to be calling for an intentional walk pitch. Notice that he keeps both feet inside the catcher's box. If it was a real intentional walk he would have jumped outside of the box after the pitch was released.
Catcher Yadier Molina is the first to receive the automatic walk after the 2017 rule change.