When does an improper batter become a proper batter?

An improper batter becomes a proper batter when a legal or illegal pitch has been delivered to the next batter. This is a key aspect of baseball rules regarding batting order and proper gameplay. When the next pitch is delivered, it effectively resets the situation and marks the transition from the improper status to correct status for the batter who was out of order.

In terms of umpiring responsibilities, knowing when a batter is deemed proper is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the game, enforcing the batting order, and ensuring that all players are abiding by the established rules. This provision prevents confusion regarding the roles of players at any given time during the inning.

Other options may suggest scenarios such as timeouts or changes in batter status that do not align with the actual mechanics of how a batter is recognized, confirming that the delivery of a pitch is the definitive action that establishes a batter as correct in the situation.