strikeout

baseball

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

In baseball, a strikeout occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during their turn at bat. A strike can be called if the batter swings at a pitch and misses, fails to swing at a pitch that enters the strike zone, or hits a foul ball. However, a foul ball generally only counts as the first or second strike, with the exception of a bunted foul ball, which can be strike three.12

A strikeout is one of the primary ways a fielding team can achieve an out, which is crucial for preventing the opposing team from scoring. After three outs, the teams switch roles, with the fielders becoming batters and vice versa.2

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