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Baseball turns on small details. One pitch in the dirt, one ball off the glove, and the inning changes. Two of the most misunderstood events are the passed ball and the wild pitch. They look similar, but they mean different things for the catcher, the pitcher, the box score, and even how a run is judged. This guide breaks down what a passed ball is, how it differs from a wild pitch, why the distinction matters, and how you can spot the right call in real time.
Introduction
A passed ball happens fast, then the broadcast moves on. If you are new to the sport, it can be hard to tell who is responsible and how it affects the game. Yet this single judgment by the official scorer changes credit or blame, affects earned run averages, influences strategy, and shapes how coaches evaluate catchers and pitchers. The core idea is simple. Was the pitch catchable with ordinary effort or not. Once you internalize that standard, the rest starts to click.
What Is a Passed Ball
A passed ball is charged to the catcher when a pitch that should have been handled with ordinary effort gets away and allows one or more runners to advance. The official scorer decides whether the pitch was catchable in a routine manner. If the scorer believes a typical Major League catcher should have kept it in front, any advancement is a passed ball. It is a defensive misplay by the catcher, recorded as PB in game logs.
Key points to remember:
– It is only scored on a pitch, not on a throw to a base.
– It is a live ball. Runners can keep taking bases at their own risk.
– The catcher is charged with the PB. The pitcher is not penalized with a wild pitch in this case.
– A run that scores primarily because of a passed ball is unearned to the pitcher.
What Is a Wild Pitch
A wild pitch is charged to the pitcher when a pitch is so far off target that the catcher cannot control it with ordinary effort, and runners advance. The pitch might bounce before it reaches the plate, sail high, dive far outside, or otherwise be unmanageable despite reasonable catching technique. The scorer evaluates the quality and location of the pitch, not the catcher’s reputation or the pitcher’s intent.
Key points to remember:
– It is the responsibility of the pitcher, recorded as WP.
– The ball remains live. Runners advance at their own risk.
– Runs that score because of a wild pitch are generally earned to the pitcher, unless other events in the inning would make them unearned under scoring rules.
Passed Ball vs Wild Pitch: The Core Difference
The distinction comes down to one standard: ordinary effort by the catcher. If the pitch was catchable with a reasonable block or glove play and got away, it is a passed ball. If the pitch was too errant to be handled with ordinary effort, it is a wild pitch. Everything else flows from this single judgment.
Who Makes the Call
The official scorer makes the ruling. Umpires do not signal passed ball or wild pitch. Broadcasters may speculate, but the box score reflects the scorer’s judgment. The scorer considers speed, movement, location, the catcher’s position, and the overall play. The call may be changed after review, but that is rare.
How Ordinary Effort Is Judged
Ordinary effort is a standard used throughout scoring. For catchers, it accounts for expected techniques like receiving, blocking in the dirt, and lateral movement behind the plate. The scorer looks at:
– Did the ball strike the glove or body in a controllable way
– Did the pitch bounce before it reached the plate
– Was the pitch wildly high, far inside, or far outside
– Was the catcher set up in a typical receiving position
– Did the ball glance off the mitt in a way a normal block should have stopped
If the answer suggests routine playable qualities, think passed ball. If it suggests unreasonable control, think wild pitch.
How Each Is Recorded in the Box Score
– Passed ball: PB, charged to the catcher by name.
– Wild pitch: WP, charged to the pitcher by name.
Neither event is scored as an error in the team error column. Passed balls and wild pitches reside in their own statistical categories. They still affect base advancement and run scoring, but they do not add to the E total for team errors.
Impact on Runs and Earned Run Average
This is where the difference becomes important:
– If a runner scores because of a passed ball, the run is unearned to the pitcher, because the catcher is deemed responsible for the advancement.
– If a runner scores because of a wild pitch, the run is generally earned to the pitcher, because the pitcher is deemed responsible. The run can still become unearned if other rule conditions apply, such as prior errors that should have ended the inning.
For pitchers, a wild pitch can hurt ERA. For catchers, a passed ball raises their PB total and reflects on blocking. This drives coaching focus, roster decisions, and preparation for high-leverage situations with runners on third.
Effect on Stolen Bases
Advances on passed balls or wild pitches are not stolen bases. They are advances on a misplay. There is one exception the scorer can apply. If a runner attempts to steal and, in the scorer’s judgment, would have been safe even with a normally handled pitch, the scorer may credit a stolen base and also charge a PB or WP if the pitch allowed further advance. In most cases, though, no stolen base is credited when the advance happens because the pitch got away.
Dropped Third Strike and How It Fits
An uncaught third strike can be a passed ball or a wild pitch. The same ordinary effort rule applies. If the pitch was catchable with ordinary effort and the catcher failed to secure it, it is a passed ball. If the pitch was too errant to be handled with ordinary effort, it is a wild pitch. The batter may attempt first base if first base is unoccupied or there are two outs. The play is live, and runners may advance.
Foul Tips and Misunderstandings
A legally caught foul tip is simply a strike. If the catcher fails to catch a foul tip, it is a foul ball, dead immediately. No runners advance and no PB or WP is charged. Fans sometimes assume a muffed foul tip that goes to the backstop is a passed ball, but scoring rules treat it as a foul ball, not as a misplay that advances runners.
Cross-Ups Between Pitcher and Catcher
Sometimes the catcher expects a fastball and gets a curveball. That miscommunication is called a cross-up. It does not change the scoring principle. The scorer still applies the ordinary effort standard. If the pitch was within a range a catcher could normally handle and it got by because he was set up for the wrong pitch, it is a passed ball. If it was too errant to expect a block or catch even with the right sign, it is a wild pitch.
What About Pitches That Bounce
If a pitch bounces before it reaches the plate and the runner advances because it gets away, it is almost always a wild pitch. Catchers are trained to block balls in the dirt, but there is a reasonable limit to ordinary effort on a ball that hits the ground before reaching home. Only in rare situations where the bounce was controlled and the catcher plainly misplayed it would a scorer consider a passed ball.
Pickoff Throws Are Not PB or WP
Only pitches to the batter can be scored as passed balls or wild pitches. A pickoff throw from the pitcher to a base that skips away is a throwing error, not a wild pitch. A throw by the catcher to a base that sails into the outfield is also a throwing error, not a passed ball. Keep the category clear. PB and WP cover only pitched balls.
How To Tell the Difference in Real Time
You do not need pro-level video to make a good guess. Use this checklist while you watch:
– Location: Did the ball miss by several feet high or wide, or did it travel near the target zone
– Bounce: Did it hit the dirt before the plate
– Glove contact: Did it strike the catcher’s glove or body in a controllable way and still get past
– Movement: Was the movement extreme beyond normal receiving expectations
Quick rule of thumb: bounce or obvious air-mail usually means wild pitch; playable pitch mishandled usually means passed ball. The official scorer may still surprise you, but these cues put you on the right side most of the time.
Situational Pressure With Runners on Third
Runners on third heighten the consequences. One pitch in the dirt can change the game. What teams do:
– Pitchers choose breaking balls more carefully with two strikes, balancing strikeout chase with the risk of a wild pitch.
– Catchers adjust setups, widen their stance, and emphasize blocking first, reception second.
– Coaches consider mound visits to clarify signs and prevent cross-ups.
– Runners take larger secondary leads and read trajectory aggressively.
The scoring outcome follows the same rule. If the catcher should have blocked it and did not, it is a passed ball and the run is unearned to the pitcher. If the pitch was too erratic to block, it is a wild pitch and the run is usually earned.
Why the Distinction Matters to Teams
Teams track catcher defense along several axes. Passed balls reflect blocking and receiving. Wild pitches reflect command and execution by the pitcher. These signals drive strategy, personnel choices, and late-inning matchups. A catcher who minimizes passed balls behind a power breaking ball staff is valuable. A pitcher whose chase sliders rarely turn into wild pitches can attack the zone more confidently with runners aboard.
Scoring Subtleties You Should Know
Partial Blocks and Deflections
If the catcher gets a piece of the ball and it still kicks away, the scorer asks whether ordinary effort should have kept it in front. Deflection alone does not excuse a passed ball. If the pitch was already wild before contact, the call leans wild pitch.
Glove But Not Secure
If the pitcher hits the target and the catcher simply fails to secure it, that is almost always a passed ball. The intent or the specific glove model does not matter. The routine catch should have been made.
Extreme Movement
Some pitches move late and violently. If the movement takes the pitch outside a reasonable catching window, the call leans wild pitch. If the catcher sets up properly and the pitch dives well out of the receiving lane, it is unfair to call a passed ball.
Dropped Third Strike and Base-Running Outcomes
On an uncaught strike three, the batter can run to first if first base is unoccupied or if there are two outs. This is the same play type as any ball getting past the catcher. The scorer applies PB or WP based on ordinary effort. The batter is charged with a strikeout in either case. The baserunners may also advance. The play remains live, and a smart defense must finish with an out at first or elsewhere.
How Broadcasters and Box Scores Show It
After the play, you might hear that the runner advanced on a passed ball or on a wild pitch. Box scores will list PB followed by the catcher’s name and WP followed by the pitcher’s name. If multiple events occur in the game, they list each instance. Team error counts are separate and unaffected by PB or WP totals.
Softball and Amateur Scoring
The same principles apply in softball and in youth baseball. The rule is universal. Did the pitch require only ordinary effort for a typical catcher at that level. If yes and the ball gets away, it is a passed ball. If no, it is a wild pitch. The skill baseline shifts by level, but the concept stays constant.
Common Misconceptions
– Myth: Any ball in the dirt is a passed ball. Reality: Pitches that bounce are usually wild pitches, unless the bounce was controlled and the catcher plainly misplayed it.
– Myth: If the catcher touches it, it cannot be a wild pitch. Reality: A catcher can touch a ball that is still unmanageable with ordinary effort. Contact does not settle it.
– Myth: Cross-ups automatically mean passed ball. Reality: Scorers judge the pitch, not the sign mix-up.
– Myth: Passed balls are errors. Reality: They are recorded separately and do not count in the E column.
How Coaches Reduce Passed Balls and Wild Pitches
For Catchers
– Emphasize blocking first with runners on, especially with two strikes.
– Maintain a balanced stance that allows lateral movement.
– Keep the chest forward and eyes behind the glove to kill rebounds.
– Practice reading spin and late movement to anticipate breaks.
For Pitchers
– Command breaking balls in predictable counts to avoid chase-only locations with runners aboard.
– Communicate signs and sequences clearly to prevent cross-ups.
– Adjust pitch selection with a runner on third and less than two outs to reduce risk.
– Work with the catcher pregame on movement expectations and lanes.
A Simple Decision Guide You Can Use
When you see a ball get past the catcher, ask yourself:
1. Did the pitch bounce before the plate or miss by several feet High likelihood of wild pitch.
2. Did it strike the catcher’s glove or body in a normal receiving window and still escape High likelihood of passed ball.
3. Was the catcher set up to receive a normal target and the pitch landed near that target Passed ball is likely.
4. Did late, extreme movement yank the ball far off lane despite a reasonable setup Wild pitch is likely.
This guide will not beat every official scorer, but it will place you on the most common side of the ruling.
Why the Stat Line Matters for Players
For pitchers, wild pitches can nudge ERA and signal command issues under pressure. For catchers, passed balls affect reputation and opportunities, especially on teams with breaking ball heavy staffs. Front offices track both because postseason games turn on one dirt ball kept in front or not. Understanding which bucket a play falls into helps you interpret pitching lines, catcher defense, and in-game decisions.
Examples Without Video
Example 1: Runner on third, sharp slider in the dirt
The pitcher buries a slider that bounces just before the plate and skips to the backstop. The runner scores. Even if the catcher dropped to block, the ball kicked away sharply. Expect wild pitch and an earned run to the pitcher unless other rules make it unearned.
Example 2: Fastball at the belt, off the mitt
A straight fastball near the target hits the catcher’s glove, pops out, and trickles away far enough for the runner to take second. Expect passed ball. The pitch was catchable with ordinary effort.
Example 3: Uncaught third strike on a curve
The curve dives late, crossing low and away, and the catcher stabs but misses cleanly as the batter runs to first. If the pitch was too errant for a routine block, expect wild pitch. If it passed through a normal blocking lane and was mishandled, expect passed ball.
How PB and WP Interact With Offensive Credit
If a runner scores on a passed ball or a wild pitch, the batter at the plate does not receive an RBI. The advancement is credited to the PB or WP event, not to a batted ball or a sacrifice. On an uncaught third strike, the batter is out on strikes for scoring purposes, even if he reaches first base, and the PB or WP governs the runner advances. The offensive counting stats reflect the out or the absence of an RBI, not credit for creating the run.
Watching Smarter: What To Track During a Game
– With runners on, note the catcher’s setup and the pitcher’s intent. Anticipate dirt balls on two-strike breaking pitches.
– Track whether balls that get by touched leather in a controllable spot. That supports passed ball calls.
– Pay attention to the bounce line. Bounced pitches before the plate heavily favor wild pitch calls.
– Listen for the official scoring change. Initial broadcast guesses can flip after review.
Summary of the Difference
Passed ball is on the catcher when a pitch that should be handled with ordinary effort gets away and runners advance. Wild pitch is on the pitcher when the pitch is too errant to be handled with ordinary effort and runners advance. Passed balls lead to unearned runs for the pitcher. Wild pitches generally lead to earned runs. Neither counts as a team error. The play stays live in both cases, and smart baserunners exploit the moment.
Conclusion
Once you anchor on the ordinary effort standard, the line between passed ball and wild pitch becomes clear. Was it catchable in a routine way or not. From that answer, you can predict who gets charged, how the run is judged, and what the box score will show. The difference is not academic. It changes ERA, influences tactics with runners on third, and shapes how teams evaluate their catchers and pitchers. Watch the pitch path, the bounce, and whether the ball hit a reasonable receiving window. With practice, you will call it right as often as the scorer.
FAQ
Q: What is a passed ball
A: A passed ball is charged to the catcher when a pitch that should have been handled with ordinary effort gets away and allows runners to advance.
Q: How is a wild pitch different from a passed ball
A: A wild pitch is charged to the pitcher when the pitch is too errant to be handled with ordinary effort, while a passed ball is charged to the catcher when a catchable pitch is mishandled.
Q: Do passed balls and wild pitches count as errors
A: No. Passed balls and wild pitches are recorded in their own categories and do not count in the team error column.
Q: How do passed balls and wild pitches affect earned runs
A: Runs that score because of a passed ball are unearned to the pitcher, while runs that score because of a wild pitch are generally earned unless other rule conditions make them unearned.
Q: Does a stolen base get credited on a passed ball or wild pitch
A: Advances on passed balls or wild pitches are not stolen bases, unless the scorer judges the runner was attempting to steal and would have been safe even with a normally handled pitch.