Under Official Baseball Rule 5.05(b)(2), a batter must make a reasonable attempt to avoid a pitch that is outside the strike zone to be awarded first base. [1, 2, 3]
Yes it is, batters need to make an attempt to get away from ball, not lean into it
EDIT
Under Official Baseball Rule 5.05(b)(2), a batter must make a reasonable attempt to avoid a pitch that is outside the strike zone to be awarded first base.