Balls, strikes, outs and the count
Baseball count explained: balls, strikes and outs
How the pitch count works, why four balls award first base, why three strikes usually mean a strikeout, and how foul balls and outs affect an at-bat.
How to read the count
The count tracks balls and strikes during one plate appearance. It is normally stated with balls first and strikes second: 3-2 means three balls and two strikes. Each new batter begins at 0-0, and each pitch can change the count according to its result.
Four balls and three strikes
Four balls give the batter first base on a base on balls, commonly called a walk. Three strikes produce a strikeout. A strikeout normally retires the batter, but an uncaught third strike can allow the batter to try for first base when the rule conditions are met; the strikeout is still recorded.
What a foul ball does with two strikes
An ordinary foul ball counts as a strike when the batter has fewer than two strikes, but it does not normally create strike three once the count already has two strikes. A legally caught foul tip is different: with two strikes, it is strike three.
Outs are separate from the count
Balls and strikes belong to the current batter’s count, while outs belong to the half-inning. Batters and runners can be retired in several rule-defined ways, including strikeouts and batted-ball outs. After three outs, the teams switch offense and defense for the next half-inning.