How Baseball Players Get Out at Bat

Baseball is a game of outs — three strikes and you’re out; three outs, and your team is done for the inning. Baseball batters can be ruled out any number of ways, and the following list shows how you can get out when you’re up at home plate:

• A fielder catches your fair or foul ball before it touches the ground (unless it is a foul tip to the catcher with less than two strikes).

• You hit a foul tip (a ball caught by the catcher off your bat) for strike three.

• After hitting the ball, you or first base is tagged before you touch the base.

• The umpire calls three strikes during your at-bat (whether you swing or not).

• A ball that you hit fair hits your bat a second time while you are in fair territory.

• While running outside the foul lines, you obstruct a fielder’s throw.

• You hit the ball with one or both feet outside the batter’s box or step from one batter’s box to another while the pitcher winds up.

• You obstruct the catcher from fielding or throwing.

• You run into your own fairly-batted ball while running from home to first base.