Or
| A | |
|---|---|
| Put Out | See “Out”. |
| B | |
|---|---|
| Balk | An illegal motion by the pitcher. When the umpire calls “That’s a balk!”, all baserunners are awarded one base. |
| Base on Balls (Walk) | Occurs when the pitcher misses the strike zone four times without the batter attempting to swing. The batter is then awarded first base. |
| Base Stealing | When a baserunner advances to the next base before the batter has hit the ball. A common occurrence in baseball. |
| Baseline (Running Line) | An imaginary straight line between two bases. To avoid a tag out, a baserunner may leave this line by about 1 meter to the left or right. |
| Batter’s Box | A marked area to the left and right of home plate in which the batter must stand while batting. |
| Batting Order | The fixed sequence in which batters come up to hit. If a batter is skipped and the opposing team protests, the batter who should have hit is called “out by rule” — the next batter in the order then comes up to bat. |
| Bullpen | The area where pitchers warm up before or during the game. |
| Bunt | A special batting technique in which the batter simply holds out the bat so the ball rolls only a short distance into the infield (usually in front of the pitcher). Advantage: a baserunner can be advanced into scoring position and a possible double play prevented. Disadvantage: the batter is usually out at first base. |
| C | |
|---|---|
| Caught Stealing | When a baserunner is put out while attempting to steal a base. |
| D | |
|---|---|
| Dead Ball | A state in which no further play is allowed until all players are ready and the umpire calls “play”. Dead ball occurs, for example, when a foul ball is not caught, when interference or obstruction occurs, or when the ball enters dead-ball territory (e.g. the stands). |
| Double Play | When the defensive team records two outs in a single play (e.g. a force out at second base followed by a force out at first base). |
| Dropped Third Strike | A rule allowing the batter to run to first base despite having 3 strikes, if the ball was not cleanly caught by the catcher (dropped or caught only after touching the ground) and first base is unoccupied (with 2 outs this also applies if first base is occupied). |
| Dugout | The covered player benches at the edge of the field. |
| E | |
|---|---|
| Extra Innings | Additional innings played when the score is tied after the regular number of innings. |
| F | |
|---|---|
| Fly Out | An out that occurs when a batted ball is caught directly out of the air by a fielder. |
| Force Play | Occurs when a baserunner is forced to advance to the next base because all bases behind him are occupied. In a force play it is enough for a fielder in possession of the ball to touch the relevant base — a tag is not required. Additional rule: if the third out of an inning is a force out, a run scored by another runner on the same play no longer counts. |
| Foul Ball | A batted ball that lands in foul territory. |
| Foul Lines | Lines running from home plate through third base and first base and continuing into the outfield, marking the boundaries of fair territory. |
| Full Count | A count of 3 balls and 2 strikes (3-2), pronounced “three and two”. |
| H | |
|---|---|
| Home Run | A batted ball that allows the batter to round all the bases and reach home plate, typically because the ball leaves the field of play. |
| I | |
|---|---|
| Infield Fly | A rule preventing fielders from intentionally dropping an easily catchable fly ball in the infield in order to force a double play. It applies when there are fewer than 2 outs, at least first and second base are occupied, and the fly ball can be caught with ordinary effort. |
| Inning | A segment of the game in which both teams have batted and fielded once each (i.e. a total of 2 × 3 outs). |
| Intentional Walk | When the pitcher deliberately throws four pitches outside the strike zone to intentionally walk the batter to first base, usually to avoid a more dangerous hitting situation. |
| Interference | A play in which a baserunner or batter blocks or hinders a fielder. |
| L | |
|---|---|
| Lead (Lead Off) | The distance a baserunner takes off his base, usually about 2 meters, to gain an advantage when stealing or advancing. |
| Left on Base | Refers to the baserunners still on base when the third out of the inning was recorded. |
| Line Drive | A hard, flat-hit ball that travels through the air without touching the ground — as opposed to a fly ball (high) or ground ball (on the ground). |
| M | |
|---|---|
| Major League | The highest level of professional baseball in the United States (Major League Baseball, MLB) — not a league for children or youths. |
| O | |
|---|---|
| Obstruction | Occurs when a baserunner on the way to the next base is blocked or hindered by a fielder. Fielders do not need to clear the path while fielding a batted ball or while attempting to tag a runner with the ball in their possession. |
| Out | Occurs in several situations: a fielder with the ball touches a baserunner (tag out); a batter fails to hit the ball after 3 strikes (strikeout); a batted ball is caught in the air (fly out). |
| Out by Rule | An out called by the umpire due to a rule violation, e.g. when a baserunner passes the runner ahead of him, two baserunners occupy the same base at the same time, or a baserunner fails to touch a base. |
| P | |
|---|---|
| Perfect Game | A game in which not a single opposing batter reaches first base — an exceptional achievement by the pitcher. |
| Pickoff | A throw by the pitcher to an occupied base. The aim is to put out a baserunner who has taken too big a lead before he can return, or to discourage him from taking a large lead in the first place. |
| R | |
|---|---|
| RBI (Run Batted In) | Credited to a batter when his hit (e.g. a base hit) enables a teammate on base to score a run. |
| Relay | A fielder who positions himself in a straight line between an outfielder and the target of the throw (e.g. home plate), receives the ball from the outfielder and throws it on, in order to cover long distances faster and more accurately. |
| Rundown | A situation in which a baserunner is caught between two bases. Two fielders throw the ball back and forth and close in on the runner in order to tag him out. |
| S | |
|---|---|
| Sacrifice Fly | When a baserunner, immediately after a caught fly ball in the outfield, is able to score a run via a tag up. The team deliberately “sacrifices” an out for a run. |
| Scoring Position | Refers to baserunners standing on second or third base, since from there they could reach home plate (score) on a single hit. |
| Single | A base hit that allows the batter to reach first base safely. |
| Strike | Occurs in several situations: a batted ball lands in foul territory and the batter had fewer than 2 strikes; the pitcher throws outside the strike zone, the batter swings and misses; the batter does not attempt to swing even though the pitch is within the strike zone. |
| Strike Zone | The area above home plate within which a pitch is counted as a strike if the batter does not swing. |
| T | |
|---|---|
| Tag Out | An out in which a fielder in possession of the ball touches a baserunner. |
| Tag Up | A baserunner waits until a fly ball is caught, then immediately touches his base and attempts to advance to the next base. |
| Take (Take One Strike!) | A tactical recommendation for batters to deliberately let a pitch go by (not swing), even if it is clearly through the strike zone — for example, to “size up” the pitcher. |
| Triple Play | When the defensive team records three outs in a single play. |
| W | |
|---|---|
| Walk | See “Base on Balls”. |
| Wild Pitch | When the pitcher throws a pitch so high, so low, or so far off home plate that the catcher cannot catch it. |
