During a double steal attempt, what happens if the batter swings and interferes with the catcher’s throw?

In a situation where the batter swings and interferes with the catcher’s throw during a double steal attempt, the appropriate ruling is that the runner who is attempting to steal second base (often referred to as R2) is called out. This is because the batter's interference directly impacts the catcher’s ability to make a play on the stealing runner.

Once the interference occurs, the play is considered dead, and the umpire will rule that the interference has affected the defensive team's action. This leads to the out call for R2, as the rules dictate that if the batter interferes with the play, it is typically the runner advancing in the direction of the play (in this case, to second base) who is penalized.

The ruling reflects the principle that a batter must avoid actions that could impede the fielders, fostering fair play and maintaining the integrity of the game. Hence, play continues after this ruling, emphasizing that the other runner (usually going from first to second) is unaffected by this specific interference and therefore does not get penalized directly.