thumb|A 1911 [[American Tobacco Company baseball card illustrating a baserunner being tagged out at third base]]

In baseball, an out occurs when the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a batter or runner is out, they lose their ability to score a run and must return to the dugout until their next turn at bat. When three outs are recorded in a half-inning, the batting team's turn expires.

To signal an out, an umpire generally makes a fist with one hand, and then flexes that arm either upward, particularly on pop flies, or forward, particularly on routine plays at first base. Home plate umpires often use a "punch-out" motion to signal a called strikeout.

Ways of making outs

  • The most common ways batters or runners are put out are when:
  • The batter strikes out (they make three batting mistakes, known as strikes, without hitting the ball into fair territory);
  • The batter flies out (they hit the ball and it is caught before landing);
  • A baserunner fails to return to their time-of-pitch base after a flyout occurs and a fielder with the ball touches the base (commonly known as "doubling off" or "doubling up", as this would constitute a double play);
  • a baserunner is tagged out (they are touched by the ball, held in an opponent's hand, while not on a base);
  • a baserunner is forced out (an opponent with the ball reaches the base the runner is forced to advance to before the runner does).
  • The batter is out when:
  • Strikeout-related outs:
  • with two strikes, the batter swings at a pitched ball and misses;
  • with two strikes, they do not swing at a pitch that the umpire judges to be in the strike zone (and the catcher catches the ball and does not drop it);
  • with two strikes, they bunt a pitch into foul territory;
  • Ground out: when the batter hits a ground ball that leads to them being thrown out.

For fly outs:

  • Pop out: When the batter hits a pop up (a fly ball that goes high but not far) and it is caught.
  • Line out: A line drive that is caught.
  • Foul out: A foul fly ball that is caught.

See also

  • Safe (baseball)
  • Tie goes to the runner
  • Dismissal (cricket)

Further reading

  • Official rules for batters, including when the batter is out
  • Official rules for runners, including when the runner is out

References