Putout

Baseball Play-at-first

JakeBeckley

Putout is a term used in the sport of baseball to describe an action that results in an out being recorded against the offensive team. A putout occurs when a defensive player secures possession of the ball and completes a play that leads to an out, according to the rules of baseball. This can happen in a variety of ways, including catching a batted ball before it touches the ground, tagging a base to force out a runner, or tagging the runner with the ball before they reach a base. The concept of putouts is fundamental to understanding the defensive aspects of baseball, as it directly impacts the progression of the game by limiting the offensive team's opportunities to score.

Types of Putouts

There are several common scenarios in which putouts can occur:

• Catching a Fly Ball: When a player catches a ball that has been hit into the air before it lands, a putout is recorded.
• Force Out: Occurs when a defensive player has possession of the ball and touches a base that a runner is forced to advance to before the runner can reach it.
• Tag Out: When a defensive player with the ball tags a runner who is not on a base, the runner is out.
• Strikeout: In the case of a strikeout, the catcher is credited with a putout if the third strike is caught. If the third strike is not caught, the catcher must tag the batter or throw to first base to complete the putout.
• Unassisted Putouts: Sometimes, a defensive player may make a putout without any assistance, such as a first baseman catching a ball and then touching first base before the runner arrives.

Recording Putouts

In the official scoring of baseball, putouts are recorded to keep track of each defensive player's performance. The player who directly causes the out is credited with a putout. In certain situations, such as a force out, multiple players may be involved in the play, but only the player who actually records the out receives the putout credit.

Importance of Putouts

Putouts are a critical part of baseball strategy and defense. They are used to measure a player's defensive abilities, particularly for positions where putouts are a common part of gameplay, such as catchers, first basemen, and outfielders. High putout totals can indicate a strong defensive player or a player who is frequently involved in plays that result in outs.

See Also

• Baseball statistics
• Fielding (baseball)
• Out (baseball)
• Error (baseball)