What happens to R3 if he is in foul territory and is contacted while attempting to return to third base?

When R3 is in foul territory and is contacted while attempting to return to third base, he is declared out, which concludes the inning. This decision is predicated on the principle that a runner is entitled to a clear path back to the base, and any obstruction or contact by a fielder in foul territory can result in that runner being called out.

In this scenario, the contact with R3 while he is in foul territory is deemed to affect his opportunity to return to the base safely. Since he is unable to do so due to the contact, the rule stipulates that he is out. This enforcement aligns with the regulation designed to maintain fair play and safety on the field.

The other options, while they present different outcomes, do not accurately reflect the situation as governed by the rules. R3 cannot be considered safe (which would suggest he was not hindered), nor can he be deemed out without affecting the count of strikes; the pitch is also not counted as a foul ball in this context when there's an infraction impacting the runner's progress. The focus remains on maintaining the integrity of the base-running process which is clearly interrupted by the contact.