If a batter is up to bat with 2 strikes and swings and misses, making contact with the catcher instead, what happens?

In this scenario, when the batter swings and misses the ball, making contact with the catcher instead, the result is that the batter is declared out for the violation. This situation typically falls under the category of a swing and a miss that inadvertently results in contact with the catcher. According to the rules, a player is out if they swing at the ball and miss, which applies even in cases where the bat contacts the catcher's equipment or body, as long as the catcher is not interfering with the batter's ability to hit the ball properly.

Other options are not applicable in this situation. The batter would not be awarded first base, as that typically only occurs in cases of a hit-by-pitch or other specific rule violations. Since the batter swung at the pitch, play does not continue normally, and the catcher is not penalized for interference in this context, given that the action was initiated by the batter’s swing. Therefore, the ruling that the batter is out for the violation is consistent with the rules governing such plays in baseball.