During a rundown, if the ball becomes lodged in the batter-runner's shirt while headed towards first base, what is the ruling?

In this situation, when the ball becomes lodged in the batter-runner's shirt while they are running toward first base, the ruling is that the ball is dead, and the batter-runner is awarded first base. This decision is based on the principle that when the ball enters the clothing of a player, it is no longer in play. The action of it becoming lodged signifies that it cannot be retrieved for a proper play, resulting in an immediate stoppage of the game for safety reasons and to maintain the integrity of the play. As a result, the batter-runner is not penalized for this unusual occurrence—they are granted first base automatically, allowing them to advance without the risk of being tagged out during the rundown. This ruling ensures that players are not unfairly disadvantaged by an unintended circumstance involving the ball.