Baseball Balk Rules: What Pitchers Cannot Do

By Mike Chen · October 11, 2026

What Is a Balk?

A balk is an illegal act by the pitcher when one or more runners are on base. When a balk is called, each runner advances one base. The purpose is to prevent pitchers from deceiving runners.

The 13 Balk Situations

Starting and stopping: Beginning the pitching motion and then stopping
Faking to first: Feinting a throw to first base without completing it
Not stepping toward a base: Failing to step directly toward a base before throwing to it
Faking to an unoccupied base: Throwing to a base no runner is approaching
Illegal pitch: Delivering a pitch while not facing the batter
Quick pitch: Pitching before the batter is reasonably set
Delivering without the ball: Going through the pitching motion without the ball
Unnecessarily delaying: Delaying the game without cause
Faking a pitch without the ball: Standing on or near the plate without the ball and mimicking a pitch
Removing hand from ball: Taking the ball off the glove after coming set (except to throw or pitch)
Dropping the ball: Accidentally or intentionally dropping the ball while on the plate
Pitching from set without coming to a stop: Not pausing with hands together before delivering
Delivering while catcher is not in the box: Pitching during an intentional walk before the catcher is positioned

Set Position vs Windup

In the set position (used with runners on base), the pitcher must come to a complete stop with hands together before delivering. In the windup, the pitcher has more freedom of movement but cannot easily control the running game.

Penalty

With runners on base: each runner advances one base. With no runners on base: most balk-type violations are simply called an illegal pitch (ball added to the count).

Baseball Balk Rules: What Pitchers Cannot Do

What Is a Balk?

The 13 Balk Situations

Set Position vs Windup

Penalty

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