batter has a full count 3-2. Next pitch is inside and the batter catches the ball. Does the batter have to let the ball hit the ground so the umpire can call ball or strike or is he out for interference?

I've seen many batters catch inside balls and the umpire called them balls.

Previous runner interference discussion.
I've always heard runners must slide or get out of the way. Once you are out it is no longer your base line to stand in. Your entire body can be used for interference not just a hand or arm.

So you’re saying it’s a ball? How do you call it a ball when it never hits the ground? So any pitch can be caught and called a ball? What’s the rule??

G17.. you wont find a specific rule about the batter catching a pitched ball.. this basically comes down to the umpire and how he would call it.. I have had it happen about 10 times over many years most of the time with 2 strikes on the batter the pitcher purposely throws an inside pitch hoping the batter will swing and foul out.. I just use my judgment had the ball not been caught by the batter, would it have been a strike ... I do remember calling a strike on a batter 1 time who was crowding the plate at the time he had a 3 and O count and in my judgment the ball COULD possible have caught the edge of the strike mat..
I've never had a complaint about it, and if the defense complained which also has never happened I would give a warning to the batter but stand by my original call

Grinder17: When a batter is in the batter box and a ball is pitched and the batter doesn't move and the pitched ball hits the batter on any part of his body that ball is called a ball without hitting the ground and its a dead ball.

I agree with B.J. that you probably will not find a written rule unless you interpreted the rule on interference that prohibits the batter from interfering with the catcher making a play.

When I umpired ASA in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s when instructing at pre-season clinics for umpires and team managers, this is the instructions that we gave to them:

If the catcher reaches for a ball that hinders your ability to properly call a ball or strike, make the call a ball and explain to the catcher that he must allow you to see the ball complete it’s arc in relation to the strike zone based on batters front shoulder and trailing knee and the width, depth of plate and where the ball crosses the plate and lands behind the plate. Usually only takes one instruction to make it clear.

If the hitter catches a pitch, make the call a strike and explain the same thing to him, he must allow the ball to complete its flight in order for you to call a fair and equitable game for both teams. Again, usually only took one call to make it clear.

Trailing shoulder and lead knee, at 70 hrs old I get ahead of myself at times

T2.. a lot less complicated in SSUSA it either had a chance to hit the strike mat or it didn't

B.J. Yes Sir, strike mat takes all the guesswork out of the equation. I like the concept of the mat. Might be the most innovative thinking to force consistency. Other associations might benefit in looking into a mat of sorts to fit their strike zone and pitch height rules.

True B J, in senior ball with a mat , I dont remember ever seeing a catcher actually catch the ball before it hit the ground. If he was close enough to the mat to catch the ball in the air he'd get his head taken off. Most of us as a batter has caught the ball in the air if its coming at us or clearly inside without a word from either rhe umpire or the catcher.

It is an umpire judgment call. If in the umpire believes it would have been a strike, then that is the call otherwise it is a ball.

AJC, we had that exact thing happen to us. The opposing catcher caught the ball before it hit the mat/ground.
I didn't hear the umps call, but my teammates said he originally called it a strike. After my complaint, he changed it to no pitch/do over. Again I complained that it should be a ball since it never hit the mat. How do the forum umpires see it in relationship to using a mat. He was not going to change his decision of no pitch. btw, my batter eventually walked.