I'm still confused about the batting box:

Can the front foot be outside of the box and touching the ground AT THE TIME OF BALL/BAT CONTACT, as long as it's INSIDE the box at the time/start of the pitch?

I know about the back foot in front of the mat but in the box being an out, but it doesn't specify the front foot beyond that that I can find and I was told last year that it could be out and in contact with the ground when the bat hits the ball.
Thanks!

7.3 says the guy told me wrong apparently, which is what I thought but I asked him for clarification and he must've misunderstood.

Quicksilver, The only part of the Batters Box you can step out of is the FRONT Line towards the pitcher, AS LONG AS YOUR BACK FOOT IS EQUAL TO THE FRONT OF THE MAT OR WITHIN THE MAT. If you step out of the Box to the side, you will be called OUT. Try to stay away from the front of the MAT. It is an Umpires judgement call. Do not give Him/Her a chance to call you out. Have a GREAT Season

Section 1.29: The batter will be called out if he hits the ball when the back foot is completely further forward than the line defining the front edge of home plate. NOTE: All other illegally batted ball infractions regarding the side and rear lines of the batter's box, along with stepping on home plate, remain in effect.

Illegally Batted Ball: 1.33 A The entire foot is completely outside the lines of the batter's box on the ground (when the batter hits the ball fair or foul) (excluded is the front line of the box, which is no longer relevant)

So, at the time the bat hits the ball, if one foot is completely out of the SIDE of the box, the batter can be called out. It is a judgement call. The back foot must be parallel to or behind the front edge of the plate (which is an imaginary line.) (At the time the bat hits the ball)

Both feet must be in the box before the pitch is thrown. The lines of the box are part of the box.

Confused. So if my front foot is completely
out of the front edge of the batter’s box on
contact I’m ok?

Yes, Bai. Think of it this way for your front foot. At the time you strike the ball, there is no more front line of the box. The front line of the box is considered obliterated at the time you strike the ball.

Not to confuse you....but there is a difference between where your feet must be at the beginning of the pitch....and where they are when you strike the ball (two different time periods). Before the pitch is thrown BOTH feet must be in the box. At the time of the pitch, as long as both feet are in the box, you can stand anywhere in that box with both feet.

The new rules over the past year only impact the front line of the box at the point the ball strikes the bat. All other parts of the rule remain in effect: You can't stride onto the plate. You can't stride completely out of the sides or back of the box when you hit the ball.

But yes, when you strike the ball, if your back foot is parallel to the front edge of the plate (or behind that front edge) AND your front foot is completely over the FRONT line of the box, that is legal.

Hope that helps.

I am still a strong believer that the batters box should be ignored-eliminated. The only rule should be the back foot must be even with or behind the front of the plate when the ball is struck.

It does not matter where a batter stands. In the end, the batter must DEFEND the strike mat. Why does it matter if the batter is 1 foot from the strike mat or 3/4 feet from the mat when the pitch is made. I am still ok with the front foot landing on or in front of the plate declared an out.