strike zone
Quick Summary
In baseball, the strike zone is a specific area over home plate that a pitched ball must pass through to be called a strike. The dimensions of this zone are determined by the batter's height, with an upper limit at the midpoint between the shoulders and pants, and a lower limit at the bottom of the knees.1
Recently, Major League Baseball has introduced the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS). This technology uses Hawk-Eye cameras to track pitches and determine if they fall within the strike zone, allowing players to challenge umpire calls. The ABS strike zone is defined as 17 inches wide, with the bottom at 27 percent and the top at 53.5 percent of a player's height, which differs slightly from the umpire-called zone.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
baseballRecords and statistics…increasing the size of the strike zone called by the umpires. Lowering the pitching mound and reducing the size of the strike zone in 1969, along with the advent of the designated hitter rule (replacing the pitcher in the batting order with a better-hitting player) in the American League in…
Read More…increasing the size of the strike zone called by the umpires. Lowering the pitching mound and reducing the size of the strike zone in 1969, along with the advent of the designated hitter rule (replacing the pitcher in the batting order with a better-hitting player) in the American League in…
Read More
baseballThe putout…ball that passes through the strike zone, or when the ball is hit foul. A ball hit foul can count as only the first or second strike with one exception—a ball bunted foul can be called strike three. Umpires signal strikes and putouts with an emphatic movement of the right…
Read More…ball that passes through the strike zone, or when the ball is hit foul. A ball hit foul can count as only the first or second strike with one exception—a ball bunted foul can be called strike three. Umpires signal strikes and putouts with an emphatic movement of the right…
Read More
baseballThe putoutThe strike zone is a prescribed area in front of the batter and over home plate. Its upper limit is in line with the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower limit is in line with…
Read MoreThe strike zone is a prescribed area in front of the batter and over home plate. Its upper limit is in line with the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower limit is in line with…
Read More