What should be called when a batter swings and misses but the pitch hits him on the hand?

When a batter swings and misses but the pitch strikes him on the hand, the proper call is to charge a strike to the batter. This scenario occurs because the batter has voluntarily swung at the pitch. Under the rules of baseball, if a batter swings and the pitch touches any part of them, that pitch is considered a strike, provided the batter did not get hit by the pitch in a situation where they did not swing.

It’s essential to distinguish between situations of being hit by a pitch and swinging at the ball. If the batter does not attempt to avoid the pitch or does not take a step back while swinging, it reinforces that the strike should be charged. The batter's action of swinging indicates their attempt to hit the pitch, thus leading to the strike being recorded regardless of the subsequent contact with their hand. This interpretation helps maintain the balance of fair play in baseball, as a player cannot be rewarded for missing a swing while still making contact with an object that could potentially give them an advantage if they were not swinging.