A strikeout is recorded when a batter gets three strikes, whether by swinging, taking pitches, or a mix of both. Usually the batter is out on strike three. But if the catcher does not catch that third strike, the batter may run to first when the base is unoccupied or there are two outs. Even if the batter reaches safely, the strikeout still counts.
What counts as a strikeout?
A batter strikes out after receiving three strikes during a plate appearance. A strike can come from a swing and miss or from a pitch called a strike while the batter does not swing.
- A foul ball adds a strike when the count has fewer than two strikes, but an ordinary foul ball cannot be strike three.
- A foul tip caught by the catcher is strike three when the batter already has two strikes.
When can a batter run to first on an uncaught third strike?
The rule often called the “dropped third strike” applies when the catcher does not catch the third strike. The pitch does not have to be literally dropped: a pitch that bounces before the catcher catches it can qualify, too. The batter may try for first if either of these conditions is true:
- First base is unoccupied; or
- There are two outs.
If first base is occupied and there are fewer than two outs, the batter is out on strike three and cannot use this opportunity to run. When the batter is eligible to run, the defense can still retire them by tagging them or by making a force play before they reach first.
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How the base-and-outs conditions work
| Third strike | First base | Outs | Can batter try for first? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncaught | Unoccupied | Fewer than two | Yes |
| Uncaught | Occupied | Two | Yes |
| Uncaught | Occupied | Fewer than two | No; batter is out |
| Caught | Either | Any | No; batter is out |
These are the ordinary uncaught-third-strike conditions. A batter who is eligible to run is not automatically safe; they must reach first before the defense retires them.
Does reaching first safely still count as a strikeout?
Yes. The batter and pitcher are credited with a strikeout even if the batter reaches first safely after an uncaught third strike. The official scorer also records the defensive misplay as either a passed ball or a wild pitch, depending on whether, in the scorer’s judgment, the catcher should have held the pitch. MLB’s strikeout glossary and dropped-third-strike explainer describe the scoring and reach-first rule.
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How MLB’s 2026 ABS challenge case differs
There is a distinct procedure under MLB’s 2026 ABS Challenge System. If a catcher drops a pitch that was initially called a ball, and the call is overturned to strike three, the batter is out without needing to be tagged or to touch first. This is not the ordinary uncaught-third-strike opportunity. MLB’s ABS Challenge System explainer discusses this scenario; MLB’s 2026 Official Rules index links to that season’s rules PDF.
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