What occurs if a pitcher balks and then successfully delivers a pitch?

When a pitcher commits a balk, the action is considered a violation of the rules, designed to prevent the pitcher from gaining an unfair advantage over the base runners. If the pitcher then successfully delivers a pitch after committing the balk, the ball is immediately dead. This means that the balk penalty takes precedence over the outcome of the pitch. Typically, the offensive team is awarded an advancement of one base from the base they occupied at the time of the pitch, which reflects the balk ruling. Thus, the correct course of action is to enforce the balk penalty and disregard the pitch itself. This ensures consistency in upholding the integrity of the game and maintaining fairness for the players on the field.