MLB BASEBALL GLOSSARY
Quick Return Pitch: An illegal pitch, made with obvious intent to catch the batter off balance.
Run: The score made by an offensive player who has rounded the bases and returned to home plate.
Runner: An offensive player who is advancing toward, touching or returning to any base.
Safe: A declaration by the umpire that a runner who is trying for a base has not been tagged or forced out, and is therefore entitled to that base.
Single: A play in which the batter safely makes it to first base.
Strike: A legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which:
- Is struck at by the batter and missed;
- Is not struck at, if the ball passes through the strike zone;
- Is fouled by the batter when he has less than two strikes;
- Is bunted foul;
- Touches the batter as he strikes at it;
- Touches the batter in flight in the strike zone; or
- After being batted, travels directly from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught by the catcher (foul tip).
Strike Zone: An area directly over home plate, from the bottom of the batter's kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the batter's shoulders and the top of the batter's uniform pants.
Tag: The action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball, or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove while holding the ball.
Throw: The act of propelling the ball toward a given objective, usually a teammate. A pitch is not a throw.
Top: The first half of an inning.
Triple: A play in which the batter makes it safely to third base without stopping.
Triple Play: A defensive play in which three offensive players are put out as a result of one action.
Umpire: The official who judges the legality of individual plays and who otherwise enforces the rules of the game.