Rule sets / OBR / No Step Balk
No Step Balk
A pitcher must step toward the base he is throwing to. Failing to do so is a balk.
If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base.
Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.
A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base and is required to throw (except to second base) because he steps. It is a balk if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher steps toward third and does not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. It is legal for a pitcher to feint a throw to second base.
The pitcher shall step "ahead of the throw." A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk.
MLB Umpire Development Manual Authoritative interpretation
Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(3) states, the pitcher, while touching his plate, must step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. In other words, the picher must not step more toward a different base than the one to which he is throwing. The pitcher is also required to step directory toward a base when feinting a throw to that base.
If a pitcher turns or spins off on his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.
In stepping to a base, the pitcher must lift his entire non-pivot foot off the ground and bring it down in a location different from where it started and toward the base. The entire non-pivot foot must move in a direction toward and distance to the base. This will constitute a step. He is not allowed to lift his non-pivot foot up and bring it back down in the same spot where it started. In stepping, the heel of his free foot may not end up in the same spot it started.
If a pitcher, while touching his plate, jumps into the air with both feet simultaneously and his non-pivot foot lands in a step toward first base before he throws to that base, he has made a legal move.
It is legal for a right-handed pitcher to begin a pickoff move to first base by first moving his pivot foot in the direction of third base provided that he makes a legal step toward first base with his non-pivot foot before throwing there and provided that the move is continuous and without interruption. A pitcher who makes such a pickoff move is considered to be in contact with the rubber when he makes his throw to first base.
The umpire should indicate the balk by slapping the side of his leg after he has called the balk. This indicates the balk is for failure to step directly toward a base.
In the Two-Umpire System, the plate umpire generally has a better view of a balk.
A manager, coach, or player may not come onto the field or leave his position to protest the ball of a balk as defined in Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(3) (failure to step directly toward a base before throwing there). If such protest is made, the manager, coach or player shall be ejected from the game.
Video examples
Left-handed pitcher Wade Miley fails to step towards first base before throwing there. His step was ruled towards home plate.
Left-handed pitcher is judged to have failed to step directly toward first base before the pickoff attempt.
Left-handed pitcher is judged to have failed to step directly toward first base before the pickoff attempt.
Left-handed pitcher is judged to have failed to step directly toward first base before the pickoff attempt.
Left-handed pitcher is judged to have failed to step directly toward first base before the pickoff attempt.
Lindsey breaks down this no-step balk by Jose Cabrera who threw to second base without stepping directly toward that base.