Hit-by-pitch (HBP) | Glossary | MLB.com (2024)

Definition

A hit-by-pitch occurs when a batter is struck by a pitched ball without swinging at it. He is awarded first base as a result. Strikes supersede hit-by-pitches, meaning if the umpire rules that the pitch was in the strike zone or that the batter swung, the HBP is nullified.

A batter is awarded a hit-by-pitch, even if the ball only touches a portion of his uniform or protection (helmet, shin guard, etc.).

Most hit-by-pitches are unintentional. They often stem from pitchers trying to throw the ball inside but missing by a few inches. Pitchers will often throw inside to make the hitter wary, so they do not crowd the plate. However, a pitcher may sometimes throw at a hitter intentionally as a form of retaliation. If the home-plate umpire suspects this is the case, he has the right to eject the pitcher (and the manager of the pitching team) from the game.

A hit-by-pitch does not count as a hit, but it does count as a time on base for on-base percentage purposes. Certain hitters -- specifically those who stand very close to the plate -- have a knack for earning HBPs, which can obviously be helpful because the goal of any hitter is to reach base. But hit-by-pitches can also result in injury because most pitches are thrown 80 mph or faster. Per the rules, a batter must make an attempt to avoid being hit by a pitch in order to receive first base.

Pitchers with high HBP totals typically struggle with their control and will also walk a higher-than-normal number of hitters.

In A Call

"plunked," "drilled," "hit batter," "hit batsman"

Hit-by-pitch (HBP) | Glossary | MLB.com (2024)

FAQs

Hit-by-pitch (HBP) | Glossary | MLB.com? ›

A hit-by-pitch

hit-by-pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch (HBP) is an event in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB).
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Hit_by_pitch
occurs when a batter
batter
Definition. A strikeout occurs when a pitcher throws any combination of three swinging or looking strikes to a hitter. (A foul ball counts as a strike, but it cannot be the third and final strike of the at-bat.
https://www.mlb.com › glossary › standard-stats › strikeout
is struck by a pitched ball without swinging at it
. He is awarded first base as a result. Strikes
Strikes
Definition. The official strike zone is the area over home plate from the midpoint between a batter's shoulders and the top of the uniform pants -- when the batter is in his stance and prepared to swing at a pitched ball -- and a point just below the kneecap.
https://www.mlb.com › glossary › rules › strike-zone
supersede hit-by-pitches, meaning if the umpire rules that the pitch was in the strike zone or that the batter swung, the HBP is nullified.

Does a HBP count as a hit? ›

A batter hit by a pitch is not credited with a hit or at bat, but is credited with a time on base and a plate appearance; therefore, being hit by a pitch does not increase or decrease a player's batting average but does increase his on-base percentage.

Does getting hit by a pitch count as an at bat? ›

Batters will not be charged an at bat if their plate appearances end under the following circ*mstances: Receiving a base on balls (BB). Being hit by a pitch (HBP). Hitting a sacrifice fly or a sacrifice bunt (also known as sacrifice hit).

Does HBP count as a walk? ›

A hit by pitch is not counted statistically as a walk, though the effect is mostly the same, with the batter receiving a free pass to first base.

Does a hit by pitch count as an earned run? ›

(a) The Official Scorer shall charge an earned run against a pitcher every time a runner reaches home base by the aid of safe hits, sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly, stolen bases, putouts, fielder's choices, bases on balls, hit batters, balks or wild pitches (including a wild pitch on third strike that permits a batter ...

What happens if you get hit by a pitch? ›

Definition. A hit-by-pitch occurs when a batter is struck by a pitched ball without swinging at it. He is awarded first base as a result. Strikes supersede hit-by-pitches, meaning if the umpire rules that the pitch was in the strike zone or that the batter swung, the HBP is nullified.

What is not considered a hit? ›

(b) The official scorer shall not credit a base hit when a: (1) runner is forced out by a batted ball, or would have been forced out except for a fielding error; (2) batter apparently hits safely and a runner who is forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner fails to touch the first base to which such ...

Does HBP count for whip? ›

If you're reading this, you probably already know that WHIP is (walks + hits) / innings pitched. Hit-by-pitches aside, WHIP is a measure of baserunners allowed by a pitcher per inning.

What is the most HBP in a game? ›

According to MLB's official website, the single-game record for the most times hit by a pitch is three, with seven batters holding that record.

Does hit by pitch count as RBI? ›

A player does not receive an RBI when the run scores as a result of an error or ground into double play. The most common examples of RBIs are run-scoring hits. However, players also receive an RBI for a bases-loaded walk or hit by pitch.

Can you steal the 2nd base on a walk? ›

Baserunners advance only if the walk forces them to the next base. Initially, it may seem that baserunners cannot attempt a steal because there is no action on the ball during a walk. However, since the ball remains live after a walk, baserunners can attempt to steal a base.

Can a batter refuse an intentional walk? ›

On an intentional walk, every runner gets to move up a base. 3. The hitter can decline the intentional walk, as if it were, oh, a holding penalty.

Is it a hit by pitch if it bounces first? ›

According to the definition, a pitch is a ball delivered to the batter by the pitcher. It doesn't matter how the pitch reaches the batter. The batter may hit any pitch that is thrown. Note that a pitch that bounces before reaching the plate may never be called a strike or a legally-caught third strike.

Does a walk or hit by pitch count as a total base? ›

Total bases are strictly what comes from batter hits such as singles, doubles or home runs. If a player walks, it doesn't count as a base. Similarly, being hit by a pitch, stealing a base, or advancing on a wild pitch also does not contribute to the total bases tally.

Can a runner advance on a hit by pitch? ›

The ball became dead upon touching the batter and no runners may advance unless forced by the batter's award.

What does r stand for in baseball? ›

In baseball statistics, a player who advances around all the bases to score is credited with a run (R), sometimes referred to as a "run scored". While runs scored is considered an important individual batting statistic, it is regarded as less significant than runs batted in (RBIs).

What counts as recording a hit? ›

A hit occurs when a batter strikes the baseball into fair territory and reaches base without doing so via an error or a fielder's choice. There are four types of hits in baseball: singles, doubles, triples and home runs. All four are counted equally when deciphering batting average.

What can be considered a hit? ›

In the United States and the United Kingdom, a single is usually considered a hit when it reaches the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 or the top 75 of the UK Singles Chart. The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles has used this definition since the 1970s.

What is considered being hit on? ›

Definition of 'hit on'

If someone hits on you, they speak or behave in a way that shows they want to have a sexual relationship with you.

What classifies a song as a hit? ›

The anatomy of a hit song is a complex interplay of musical, cultural, and personal elements. While a catchy hook and compelling lyrics are foundational, the successful fusion of production, cultural relevance, and timing catapults a song from being good to iconic.

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