Types of Outs in Baseball
In this article
There are many ways to make an out in baseball, but most fall into a few groups: strikeouts, batted-ball outs (groundouts and fly outs), force outs and tag outs, plus multi-out plays and rule-based outs. Here's every common type, with the notation you'll see in a scorebook.
Outs by the batter
| Out | What happens | Scorebook |
|---|---|---|
| Strikeout, swinging | Third strike on a swing and miss | K |
| Strikeout, looking | Called third strike | Backwards K |
| Groundout | Ground ball fielded and thrown to first in time | 6-3, 4-3, etc. |
| Fly out | Fly ball caught in the air | F8, F9, etc. |
| Line out | Line drive caught | L6, etc. |
| Pop out | Short pop-up caught | P4, etc. |
| Foul out | Foul fly ball caught | F2F, etc. |
| Sacrifice | Bunt or fly ball that advances or scores a runner | SAC, SF |
A strikeout isn't always an out: if strike three isn't caught, the batter may run. See the dropped third strike rule.
Outs on runners
- Force out: the runner must advance because the batter became a runner, so the fielder only needs to touch the base with the ball.
- Tag out: the runner isn't forced, so the fielder must tag the runner with the ball (or the glove holding it) before he reaches the base.
- Caught stealing: a tag out on a steal attempt. See stolen bases.
- Pickoff: a pitcher or catcher throws behind a runner who strays too far.
- Doubled off: a runner leaves early on a caught fly ball and the ball beats him back.
Multi-out plays
- Double play: two outs on one play, most often a 6-4-3 or 4-6-3 groundout.
- Triple play: all three outs on one play. Extremely rare.
Rule-based outs
- Infield fly rule: with runners on first and second (or bases loaded) and fewer than two outs, a catchable infield pop-up is an automatic out.
- Running out of the baseline: a runner who strays more than three feet from his path to avoid a tag.
- Interference: a runner who hinders a fielder, or who is hit by a fair batted ball before it passes an infielder.
- Passing a runner: a trailing runner who passes the runner ahead of him.
- Hitting outside the box: contact with a foot entirely outside the batter's box.
- Batting out of order, when the other team appeals in time.
- Appeal outs: missing a base or leaving early on a caught fly. See the fourth out.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of outs in baseball?
Strikeouts, groundouts, fly outs (including line outs and pop outs), force outs and tag outs. Double and triple plays record more than one out on one play.
What is the difference between a force out and a tag out?
On a force out, the runner has to advance because the batter became a runner, so the fielder only needs to touch the base with the ball. On a tag out, the runner isn't forced, so the fielder must tag the runner.
What is the infield fly rule?
With runners on first and second, or the bases loaded, and fewer than two outs, a fair pop-up an infielder can catch with ordinary effort is ruled an automatic out. It stops infielders from dropping the ball on purpose to get a double play.
What does a backwards K mean?
In a scorebook, K is a strikeout and a backwards K means the batter struck out looking, on a called third strike.
