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

FAQs

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.

Per the rules, a batter must make an attempt to avoid being hit by a pitch in order to receive first base.

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.

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).

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.

The ball can be batted and if the batter is touched by the bounced pitch, he is awarded first base on a hit by pitch. But a pitch that bounces on the ground and goes through the strike zone is a “ball,” and a bounced pitch cannot be caught for strike three unless first base is occupied and there are less than two outs.

“(1) A batter must attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch. If he does not attempt to avoid being hit by the pitch then: a) If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, the ball is dead, it shall be called a ball and the batter is not awarded first base.

A stolen base most often occurs when a base runner advances to the next base while the pitcher is pitching the ball to home plate. Successful base stealers must be fast and have good timing.

Put simply, if there is a wild pitch or passed ball with no runners on base, the batter is allowed to just go for it. He can steal first!

Below is the list of the 101 Major League Baseball players who have been hit by a pitch more than 100 times in their MLB careers. Hughie Jennings holds the Major League record for most hit by pitches, getting hit 287 times in his career.

Which MLB team has the most HBP? ›

In 2022, the New York Mets broke the modern MLB record for most hit-by-pitches in a season, accumulating 114 plunkings in 165 total games, their brief postseason run included. That's 0.69 HBPs per game.

When a batter is hit by a pitch it is usually an easy call for the home plate umpire; dead ball, batter awarded first base and all runners who are forced advance one base.

Why was this not called a “hit”? Was it a sacrifice? This is ruled a fielder's choice so the batter reaches first but is not credited with a base hit. This happens whenever a fielder is forced out as a result of the batter's batted ball.

Other common instances in which the ball is ruled dead include a batter being hit by a pitch, a balk, an illegal collision at home plate, obstruction of a baserunner, interference with a fielder's right of way, spectator interference, a batter or runner being granted time out by the umpire and a fair batted ball ...

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.

Definition. OBP refers to how frequently a batter reaches base per plate appearance. Times on base include hits, walks and hit-by-pitches, but do not include errors, times reached on a fielder's choice or a dropped third strike.

Base hit: Any ball that is hit and results in the batter safely reaching base without an error or a fielder's choice being made on the play.