What is a Hit by Pitch in Baseball
A hit by pitch (HBP) in baseball occurs when a pitched ball strikes the batter's body while they are in the batter's box — awarding the batter first base and sometimes resulting in a warning or ejection for intentional plunking.
A hit by pitch (HBP) — sometimes called being plunked or hit by a pitch — occurs when a pitched ball makes contact with any part of the batter's body while the batter is standing in the batter's box and has made a reasonable effort to avoid being hit. When this happens, the batter is automatically awarded first base and the play is ruled dead.
Official Rules
For an HBP to be awarded, the following conditions must be met:
- The ball must hit the batter while they are in the batter's box
- The batter must attempt to avoid the pitch — a batter who leans into a pitch (intentionally allowing it to hit them) may be denied the base, and it's called a ball instead
- The pitch must not be in the strike zone — if the pitch is in the strike zone when it hits the batter, it is ruled a strike, not an HBP (regardless of contact)
- The batter must not swing — swinging and getting hit results in a strike count
If the HBP comes with two strikes, the batter still advances to first base (it does not complete a strikeout).
Scoring a Hit by Pitch
An HBP is recorded in the official scoresheet with the symbol HBP. Statistically:
- It counts against the pitcher as a batter-reached-base event (not a walk, but similar effect)
- It does not count as a hit for the batter — it does not affect batting average
- It does count for on-base percentage (OBP): $\text{OBP} = \frac{H + BB + HBP}{AB + BB + HBP + SF}$
- It advances any runners on base one base (just like a walk), unless the bases are loaded — in which case the batter's advancement forces a run to score
Career HBP Leaders
Some hitters are notorious for crowding the plate or having an unconventional stance, making them frequent hit-by-pitch targets:
| Rank | Player | Career HBP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hughie Jennings | 287 |
| 2 | Craig Biggio | 285 |
| 3 | Tommy Tucker | 272 |
| 4 | Don Baylor | 267 |
| 5 | Jason Kendall | 254 |
Craig Biggio is the modern-era leader, having been hit by a pitch 285 times in his Hall of Fame career — he famously wore a shin guard that made him difficult to walk and easy to plunk.
Intentional Hit by Pitch and Retaliation
One of baseball's unwritten rules involves retaliation — when a team believes an opposing pitcher has intentionally hit one of their batters, they may respond by plunking one of the opposing team's batters in return. This is considered part of baseball's "code" but is discouraged by umpires and MLB.
When umpires suspect a pitcher is intentionally throwing at batters:
- Warning: The umpire issues a warning to both benches — any subsequent intentional plunking results in ejection of the pitcher and manager
- Ejection: A pitcher who umpires determine threw directly at a batter's head or neck can be immediately ejected without a warning
The rule against intentional HBP exists to protect player safety, as a baseball traveling at 90+ mph can cause serious injury.
HBP in Game Strategy
Reaching Base via HBP
Batters who excel at getting hit by pitches (intentionally or by standing close to the plate) have an edge in on-base percentage. Crowding the plate invites HBPs but also opens up the inside part of the plate for hitters who can get their hands inside quickly.
Pitch-Inside Strategy
Pitchers sometimes use the inside fastball strategically to "move batters off the plate" — not necessarily hitting them, but establishing that the inner half belongs to the pitcher. This limits a batter's ability to extend their arms and achieve full power.
Effect on Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP)
An HBP does not affect BABIP (Balls in Play) since no ball enters play. It only affects OBP and the pitcher's opponent OBP.
HBP vs. Walk
Both result in the batter advancing to first base, but they differ in count:
| Walk (BB) | Hit by Pitch (HBP) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it happens | 4 balls outside strike zone | Pitch hits batter's body |
| Impact on OBP | Yes | Yes |
| Impact on batting average | No | No |
| Pitcher's fault | Typically poor command | Can be intentional or accidental |
| Count at time | Must reach 4 balls | Happens at any count |