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Baseball · Official Rules of Baseball

Law 16: Batting Record

2 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

How the official scorer credits hits and their value, game-ending hits, sacrifices, runs batted in, stolen bases and caught stealing, walks and strikeouts.

16.161Hits

When a batter gets a hit, what kind of hit, and how a game-ending hit is scored.

Test 1When the batter gets a hitTake a test

  1. A ball hit so slowly that no fielder has a chance to make a play is scored as a hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.2 · applied

  2. A fair ball that hits the pitcher's plate or a base and rebounds beyond ordinary effort is a hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.3 · applied

  3. No hit is credited when a runner is forced out by the batted ball; it is a fielder's choice.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.2.1 · applied

  4. A fair ball not touched by a fielder that touches a runner or umpire gives the batter a hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.5 · applied

  5. In any doubtful situation the official scorer gives the batter the benefit of the doubt.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.7 · recall

  6. A ball that touches a runner who is called out for being hit by an infield fly does not give the batter a hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.5 · applied

  7. If a fielder fails to retire a preceding runner and ordinary effort would not have got the batter at first, the batter gets a hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.6 · applied

  8. Whether it is a hit depends on whether ordinary effort would have retired the batter at first.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.6, 16.2.2.4 · applied

  9. Nobody could reach it in time, so the scorer gives the batter the hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.2 · recall

  10. If a fielder deflects a hard-hit ball but cannot make the play, or makes an exceptional but unsuccessful effort, the batter gets a hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.2, 16.2.1.7 · applied

Test 2Extra-base hits and game-ending hitsTake a test

  1. A hit is scored by the base where the batter stops: first, second, third, or a home run.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.1.1 · recall

  2. A batter who overruns second or third after a safe hit and is out returning gets a hit for the last base he touched.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.3 · applied

  3. When the batter is awarded two bases, three bases or a home run under the base-award rules, the scorer credits that hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.4 · applied

  4. When the batter is called out on appeal for missing a base, the last base he touched safely sets the value of the hit.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.5 · applied

  5. The scorer decides whether the batter earned the extra base; reaching second on a throw to another base is a single plus the throw.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.1.3 · applied

  6. A game-ending hit is worth as many bases as the winning run advanced, here one base from third.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.4.1 · applied

  7. When a batter ends a game with a home run out of the playing field, he and all runners on base score.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.4.3 · recall

  8. Overrunning after a safe hit costs him the out, but he keeps credit for the last base he touched.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.3 · recall

  9. One-base hit, two-base hit, three-base hit, home run.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.1.1 · recall

  10. The batter gets as many bases as the winning runner advanced, here two from second, as long as he reached that many himself.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.4.1 · applied

16.162Sacrifices, RBIs and Steals

Sacrifice bunts and flies, runs batted in, walks, stolen bases and strikeouts.

Test 1Sacrifices, runs batted in and walksTake a test

  1. With fewer than two out, a bunt that advances runners while the batter is put out at first is a sacrifice bunt.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.1 · recall

  2. With fewer than two out, a fly or line drive caught in the outfield on which a runner scores is a sacrifice fly.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.2.1 · applied

  3. If the ball is dropped and the runner scores, and could have scored after a catch, it is still a sacrifice fly.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.2.2 · applied

  4. No time at bat is charged to the batter for either kind of sacrifice.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5 · recall

  5. With the bases loaded, a batter who becomes a runner on a walk, hit by pitch, interference or obstruction gets an RBI.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.6.1.2 · applied

  6. No RBI is credited when the batter grounds into a forced or reverse forced double play.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.6.2.1 · applied

  7. When the fourth ball touches the batter, the scorer records a batter hit by the pitch.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.8.1.1 · applied

  8. A sacrifice fly brings an RBI for the run that scores, and no time at bat is charged.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.2, 16.6.1.1 · recall

  9. A bases-loaded walk forces a run home and earns the batter a run batted in.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.6.1.2 · recall

  10. When the manager indicates he will not pitch to the batter, the scorer records an intentional base on balls.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.8.1.3 · applied

Test 2Stolen bases, caught stealing and strikeoutsTake a test

  1. A stolen base is an advance of one base without the aid of a hit, putout, error, force, fielder's choice, wild pitch, passed ball or balk.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.1 · recall

  2. No error is charged on the catcher's bad throw unless it lets the stealing runner or another runner advance further.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.1.3 · applied

  3. If a runner is thrown out on a double or triple steal attempt, no other runner gets a stolen base.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.2.1 · applied

  4. An advance the defence does not try to prevent is defensive indifference, scored as a fielder's choice.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.2.3 · applied

  5. A runner who goes over the base on his steal attempt and is tagged out is caught stealing.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.4.2 · applied

  6. A strikeout is recorded even when the batter becomes a runner because the third strike was not caught.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.9.2.3 · applied

  7. If a batter leaves with two strikes and the substitute completes the strikeout, it goes to the first batter.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.9.3 · applied

  8. The scorer weighs the inning, the score and the fielders' attitude before calling it defensive indifference.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.2.3 · recall

  9. A two-strike bunt caught on the fly in foul ground is not a strikeout; the fielder who caught it gets the out.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.9.2.4 · applied

  10. A runner who left before the pitch is credited with a stolen base, and the wild pitch or passed ball is disregarded.

    Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.1.2 · applied

Sources

WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026, Rule 16 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.22
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.52
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.1.12
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.32
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.4.12
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.6.1.22
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.2.32
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.31
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.2.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.71
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.61
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.6, 16.2.2.41
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.2.1.2, 16.2.1.71
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.41
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.51
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.3.1.31
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.4.31
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.2.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.2.21
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.51
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.6.2.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.8.1.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.5.2, 16.6.1.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.8.1.31
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.1.31
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.2.11
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.4.21
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.9.2.31
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.9.31
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.9.2.41
  • WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 16.7.1.21