When a ground ball is declared foul, what happens once it hits the ground?

When a ground ball is declared foul, the ball is dead immediately upon hitting the ground. This means that play stops, and no advancement by runners can occur. The declaration of a foul ball indicates that the pitch or hit does not count in the context of the game, effectively freezing any action that might take place following the hit.

When the ball is called foul, it does not matter whether it initially appeared to have the potential to be fair; as soon as it touches the ground in foul territory, the play is dead for all intents and purposes. This aligns with the rules governing foul balls, which are designed to clarify what happens when a ball is not in play due to being hit in a non-compliant manner. The understanding of this rule helps maintain the flow of play and ensures that teams and players are aware of when they can and cannot advance.