Wild Pitch Meaning in Baseball

Definition: A wild pitch is a throw from the pitcher that is so high, low, or wide that the catcher cannot catch or stop it with ordinary effort. This mistake allows base runners to safely advance to the next base while the catcher chases the ball.

Because the pitcher is considered responsible for the error, it is recorded as a wild pitch rather than a passed ball (which is the catcher’s fault). These usually happen when a pitcher tries to throw a very fast or breaking ball and loses control of their aim. If the bases are empty, a wild pitch doesn’t hurt much, but with runners on, it can lead to easy runs for the opposing team.

Example: The runner on third base sprinted home and scored easily after the pitcher threw a wild pitch that bounced past the catcher.