What is the ruling on base runners when a pitcher's throw becomes dead immediately following a pitch?

When a pitcher's throw becomes dead immediately following a pitch, the ruling is that only one base is awarded to base runners. This situation generally arises when the pitcher makes a legal throw that is considered an attempt to put out a runner but results in a dead ball situation. As a result, the base runners are permitted to advance only one base from their last legally occupied base at the moment of the dead ball infraction. This ruling serves to maintain fairness and prevent unnecessary advancement by the runners, who might take advantage of the situation if more bases were awarded.

Other options suggest different scenarios that do not align with the standard rules governing base runner advancements upon a dead ball resulting from a pitcher's throw. The clarity provided by awarding just one base helps simplify the decision-making process for umpires and ensures consistent enforcement across similar situations during games.