Introduction
A hit by pitch (HBP) is one of the most unique aspects of the game of baseball. It occurs when a batter is struck by a pitch thrown by a pitcher and awarded first base. In the last decade, this has become an increasingly common occurrence, with the number of HBPs rising significantly over the years. This begs the question: does a hit by pitch count as an at bat?
The answer is not as straightforward as one might think. The rules of Major League Baseball (MLB) do not explicitly state if a HBP counts as an at bat, but there is consensus among the majority of baseball fans and analysts that it does not. In this article, we will take a closer look at the rules and definitions of MLB to understand why this is the case.
Definitions
Before we dive into the nuances of the HBP rules, let’s first look at some of the official definitions of the terms involved. According to the MLB Rules and Regulations, an at-bat is defined as “the official performance of a batter in one turn at the plate, resulting in a plate appearance.” A plate appearance is defined as “any time a batter steps into the batter’s box to take a batting position, whether or not a pitch is thrown in such a manner as to require a defensive player to take a defensive position.”
Simply put, an at-bat is the official performance of a batter in one turn at the plate and is the result of a plate appearance, which occurs when a batter steps into the batter’s box.
Does HBP Count as an At Bat?
Now that we’ve established the definitions of an at-bat and a plate appearance, let’s look at how a hit by pitch fits into these definitions. According to the MLB Rules and Regulations, a hit by pitch does not count as an at-bat. This is because a HBP does not result in a plate appearance; instead, it is considered a separate event from a plate appearance.
Furthermore, the official scoring rules of MLB also state that a hit by pitch does not count as an at-bat. When a batter is hit by a pitch, the official scorer must record the event as a HBP and not an at-bat. This is in accordance with the MLB Rules and Regulations and is a reflection of the fact that a HBP does not result in a plate appearance.
HBP vs. At-Bat Statistics
Although a hit by pitch does not count as an at-bat, it is still an important part of the game of baseball and can have a major impact on a team’s performance. As such, there are statistics that are used to track HBPs separately from at-bats.
The most commonly used statistic for HBPs is the HBP statistic. This statistic tracks the number of times a batter has been hit by a pitch during a season. It is important to note that this statistic does not include the number of times a batter has been hit by a pitch while in the batters box, as those are recorded as at-bats.
In contrast, the at-bat statistic tracks the number of times a batter has had a plate appearance during a season. This includes all plate appearances, even those resulting from a hit by pitch.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that a hit by pitch does not count as an at-bat. This is due to the fact that a HBP does not result in a plate appearance, which is the basis of an at-bat. While a HBP is still an important part of the game of baseball and is tracked separately from at-bats, it does not count as an at-bat in the eyes of the MLB.