Disengagement Limit Balk

MLB Umpire Development Manual Authoritative interpretation

If the pitcher makes a pickoff attempt at any base, feints a pickoff, or otherwise steps off the rubber, with runners on base he shall be charged with a "Disengagement." A Disengagement also may be charged to the pitcher on defensive calls of time, if the catcher leaves the catcher's box with less than nine (9) seconds remaining on the clock, or if the pitcher asks for new baseballs, under the circumstances and conditions described below.

If a pitcher steps off the rubber while the bases are empty the pitcher will not be charged with a Disengagement; but, unless the umpire grants "time," a step-off without runners on base shall not restart the Pitch Clock. If the umpire destermines there is not enough time remaining for the pitcher to reengage the rubber legally and deliver a pitch, the umpire may call time and assess a violation on the pitcher (i.e., automatic ball).

MLB Umpire Development Manual Authoritative interpretation

b. Two Disengagements Permitted Without Penalty. To ensure that pitchers do not circumvent the Pitch Clock regulations by stepping off the rubber, pitchers shall be limited to a total of two Disengagements per plate appearance while there is at least one runner on base and no runner has advanced for any reason (e.g. stolen base, wild pitch, balk) during the plate appearance (even in situations in which another runner does not advance), the pitcher's Disengagement count will reset (i.e, the pitcher will not be considered to have made any prior Disenagements during the same plate appearance). The Disengagement count shall not be reset during a plate appearance for any other reason, including but not limited to, caught stealing, pickoff, pitching change (the new pitcher inherits the number of disengagements from the previous pitcher), suspended game, replacement of the batter mid-plate appearance, etc.

c. Impact of Third or More Disengagement During a Plate Appearance. A pitcher may record three or more Disengagements in the same plate appearance with runners on base, but the defensive team may be penalized as follows depending on the result of the play.

i. All Runners on Base Safely Return to Original Base. If a pitcher records a third or more Disengagement and all runners safely return (or continue to occupy) their originally occupied bases, the pitcher will be charged with a balk.