It seemed like that one could have been done on the field. He called it a strike at first, so he knew it was in the zone. Is the strike zone part a rule? I know the player needs to get out of the way, and he pretty obviously leaned in. It would be nice if he could get some replay assistance on that part because it's hard to see that from behind the plate.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjs_rbV-u_vAhUqKVkFHXixCLIQFjACegQIDBAC&usg=AOvVaw1jsx9XBUBtY0SLWf4472AkRule 5.05(b)(2)
(2) He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (A) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (B) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball;
If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched.Yes, the strike zone is part of the rule. Thats what makes the home plate umpire's ruling so egregious. The replay clearly shows it was a strike. He was in the process of ringing him up on a strike zone.
Heres the video
Seems pretty obvious it was a strike. Conforto made no attempt to avoid it.