Hit by Pitch Meaning in Baseball

Definition: A hit by pitch (HBP) occurs when a batter is struck by a pitched ball without swinging at it. When this happens, the ball is ruled dead, and the batter is automatically awarded first base.

For a hit by pitch to be called, the batter must make an honest effort to avoid being hit, or at least not move into the path of the ball on purpose. If the ball touches any part of the batter’s body or clothing, they get to take their base for free. This is often a painful way to reach base, but it is strategically valuable because it puts a runner on without the batter needing to get a hit or wait for four balls.

Pitchers usually hit batters by accident when they lose control of a fast pitch or try to throw too close to the “inside” of the plate to scare the hitter. However, if an umpire believes a pitcher hit a batter on purpose—perhaps as a “payback” for a previous play—the umpire can warn or eject the pitcher from the game. Because being hit by a 90-mile-per-hour ball can cause serious injury, players wear protective gear like helmets and elbow guards to stay safe.

Example: The pitcher lost his grip on the ball and it clipped the batter’s shoulder, resulting in a hit by pitch and a free trip to first base.