How Does Baseball Work? A Beginner's Guide
In this article
Baseball is played by two teams of nine players who take turns batting and fielding. The batting team tries to hit the ball and run around four bases to score runs. The fielding team tries to get three outs to end the other team's turn. After nine innings, the team with more runs wins.
The field
- Four bases set in a square ("the diamond"): first, second, third and home plate, 90 feet apart in MLB.
- The pitcher's mound in the middle, with the rubber 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate.
- Fair territory between the foul lines; anything outside them is foul.
Youth fields are smaller: Little League uses 60-foot bases and a 46-foot pitching distance.
Innings and outs
- Each inning has a top half (the visiting team bats) and a bottom half (the home team bats).
- A half-inning ends after three outs. See how many outs are in an inning.
- If the home team is ahead after the top of the ninth, it doesn't need to bat.
- Tied after nine? The game goes to extra innings until someone leads at the end of an inning.
Batting: strikes, balls and hits
- Strike: a pitch in the strike zone, a swing and miss, or a foul ball with fewer than two strikes. Three strikes = out.
- Ball: a pitch outside the zone that the batter doesn't swing at. Four balls = a walk (base on balls).
- Hit: the batter puts the ball in play and reaches base safely: a single, double, triple or home run.
Scoring runs
A runner scores a run by touching first, second, third and home in order. Runners advance on hits, walks, stolen bases, errors and more. They can be put out by a tag, a force or a caught fly ball if they leave too early. See types of outs.
The nine positions
| Number | Position |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pitcher |
| 2 | Catcher |
| 3 | First base |
| 4 | Second base |
| 5 | Third base |
| 6 | Shortstop |
| 7 | Left field |
| 8 | Center field |
| 9 | Right field |
The numbers are used in scorebooks: a "6-3" groundout means the shortstop threw to first. Since 2022 both MLB leagues also use a designated hitter who bats for the pitcher.
Where to go next
- How to read a baseball scoreboard
- How long is a baseball game?
- Baseball terms explained: every piece of slang you'll hear at the park
- Batting order strategy
Frequently asked questions
How does baseball work in simple terms?
Two teams of nine take turns batting and fielding. The batting team tries to hit the ball and run around four bases to score runs. The fielding team tries to get three outs. After nine innings, the team with more runs wins.
How many innings are in a baseball game?
Nine in MLB, college and most adult baseball. High school games are seven innings, and Little League games are usually six. Tied games go to extra innings.
How do you score a run?
A runner scores by touching first, second, third and home plate in order before the defense gets three outs.
What is a strike and a ball?
A strike is a pitch in the strike zone, a swing and miss or a foul ball with fewer than two strikes. A ball is a pitch outside the zone that the batter doesn't swing at. Three strikes is an out and four balls is a walk.
