Strikeout

In baseball, a strikeout or strike out (denoted by K, K-S, or SO) occurs when the batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. Strikeouts are associated with dominance on the part of the pitcher and incompetence on the part of the batter, although for power hitters it is recognized that the style of swing that generates home runs also leaves the batter somewhat susceptible to striking out.

Rules

A pitcher receives credit for (and a batter is charged with) a strikeout on any third strike, but a batter is out only if either of the following is true:

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• the third strike is pitched and caught in flight by the catcher (including foul tips);
• on any third strike, if a baserunner is on first and there are fewer than two outs;

If the third strike is not caught and there are two outs, or fewer than two outs and no baserunner on first, the batter becomes a runner. Thus, it is possible for a batter to strike out, but still reach base safely if the catcher fails or is unable to catch the third strike cleanly and cannot tag out the batter or force him out at first base (called in Japan as furinige??????, i.e. swing and escape). As a result, pitchers have occasionally been able to record four strikeouts in one half-inning.

Related Topics:
Catcher - Inning

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In scoring, a strikeout is recorded as a forward-facing K. Some scorers record strikeouts where the batter didn't swing at the last pitch with a backwards-facing K, also recorded as K-C.

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