Bunt

A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fastpitch softball. In a bunt play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball into play.

Types of bunts

There are different types of bunts. The first is the sacrifice bunt, in which the batter puts the ball into play with the intention of advancing a baserunner, in exchange for the batter being thrown out. The sacrifice bunt is most often used to advance a runner from first to second base, although the runner may also be advanced from second to third base, or from third to home. The sacrifice bunt is most often used in close, low-scoring games, and it is usually performed by weaker hitters, especially by pitchers in games played in National League parks. A sacrifice bunt is not counted as an at-bat. In general, when sacrifice bunting, a batter will square to bunt well before the pitcher releases the ball.

Related Topics:
Sacrifice bunt - Baserunner - First - Second base - Third base - National League - At-bat

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The squeeze play occurs when the batter sacrifices with the purpose of scoring a runner from third base. In the suicide squeeze it is integral that the batter bunt the ball, or the runner—who is running towards home with the pitch—will likely be tagged out easily. The squeeze play is a very audacious play, and to witness it is one of the most exciting experiences for the baseball fan. If a runner scores in a squeeze play, the batter may be credited with an RBI.

Related Topics:
Squeeze play - Tagged out - RBI

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A batter may also bunt for a base hit. This is not a sacrifice play, because the batter is trying to reach base safely, without any intention of advancing a runner. A batter may try to bunt for a base hit while there are runners on base. In this case, if the runner advances and the batter is thrown out, and if the scorer judges that the intention of the batter was to bunt for a base hit, then the batter will not receive credit for a sacrifice bunt. A batter bunting for a base hit will often hold back his bunt while the pitcher begins delivering the ball, in order to surprise the fielders.

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Often when attempting to bunt for a base hit, the batter will begin running as he is bunting the ball. This is called a drag bunt. Left-handed batters perform this more often than right-handed hitters, because their stance in the batter's box is closer to first base.

Related Topics:
Base hit - Batter's box - First base

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A swinging bunt occurs when a poorly hit ball rolls a short distance into play, much like a bunt. A swinging bunt is often the result of a check-swing, and only has the appearance of a bunt. It is not a true bunt, and if the scorer judges that the batter intended to hit the ball, it cannot be counted as a sacrifice.

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Fielding a bunt is often more difficult than fielding a regularly-batted ball. Bunts are often hit slowly, so fielders must charge the ball to get to it quickly, in order to throw out a runner in time. Well-placed bunts sometimes can be impossible to field, and often go as base hits. The main idea in bunting for a base hit is to hit the ball fast enough to get it by the pitcher, but slow enough to not give the other infielders enough time to make a play. Bunting a ball into no-man's land --- the triangle between the locations of the pitcher, first baseman, and second baseman --- is often a good location for a bunt, because often there will be some confusion over which fielder should field the ball and which should cover first base to receive the throw. It is common for all three fielders to try to field the ball, and for nobody to cover the bag, or for no one to try to field the ball, assuming someone else will handle it.

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