Baseball Terms

FUNDAMENTALS
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Baseball Terms

base hit (n)- a batted ball that allows the batter to safely reach a base without a fielding error or force out.

base on balls (n) - the act of a batter receiving four balls (pitches outside the strike zone) without swinging at them. When a batter gets a base on balls, he or she is allowed to walk to first base. A base on balls does not count as an official at bat.

batting average (n) - a measure of batting ability. It is calculated by dividing the number of base hits by the number of official at bats. Batting average is always displayed as a number with three decimal places.

error (n) - a statistic that is charged to a defensive player on a play where a defensive mistake allows a batter to reach first base, a runner to advance, or a batter to extend his or her time at bat.

foul ball (n) a batted ball that lands, or is caught by a defensive player, outside the foul lines.

foul line (n) - either one of the two lines that extent from home plate and the foul pole at the edges of the outfield. A white line marks the foul line.

hit by a pitch (n) - the act of a batter being struck by a pitch and awarded first base. Hit by a pitch does not count as an official at bat.

official at bat (n) - a turn at bat in which a player either makes an out or a base hit, or reaches base on an error or a force out. Base on balls, hit by pitch, sacrifice hits, or catcher's interference do not count as an official at bat.

out (n) - any of several plays in which a batter or base runner is retired.

put out (vt) - a play by a fielder that results in a batter or base runner being called out. Fielders get credit for a put out by tagging a runner or stepping on a base to force out a runner. Strikeouts are credited to the pitcher.

retire (vt) - a batter or base runner being put out or struckout.

sacrifice (n) - a ball that is hit when there are less than two outs that enables a base runner to advance but also results in the batter being put out. A sacrifice is not counted as an official at bat.

strikeout (n) - an out that results from a batter swinging and missing three pitches, three pitches thrown in the strike zone without a swing (called strike), or a combination of missed swings and called strikes totaling three. NOTE: the first two foul balls count as strikes.