What happens if a pitcher in the set position separates his hands without delivering a pitch?

When a pitcher is in the set position, they are required to maintain the integrity of that position until they deliver the pitch. If the pitcher separates their hands without a pitch being thrown, this action breaks the rules governing the pitching motion. According to baseball regulations, this specific act is classified as a balk.

A balk is meant to prevent deception to the baserunners, ensuring that the pitcher does not create an unfair advantage. When the pitcher separates their hands, it constitutes an illegal act because it disrupts the normal process of delivery and can confuse the base runners about the pitcher’s intent. The enforcement of this rule is aimed at maintaining fairness in the game, and as a consequence of the balk, the opposing team is awarded a base, potentially giving runners an advantage.

The other options do not align with the rules of the game; a legal pitch would imply that the requirements for a pitch were met, a warning would typically apply to behavior rather than mechanical actions like separating the hands, and an automatic ball would not apply since the action is specifically defined as a balk, which carries different consequences.