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Wild pitches look simple on screen. The ball gets past the catcher and runners move up. But the scorebook does not accept simple. A wild pitch is a specific call, with a clear definition, real effects on runs and stats, and constant judgment by the official scorer. If you want to read a box score, coach a catcher, or just follow a game with more insight, you need to know how wild pitches work. This guide breaks it down step by step. Clear rules, practical examples, and what the catcher can actually do about it. Stay with it. You will see the game differently by the end.
What is a Wild Pitch
A wild pitch, often abbreviated as WP, is a pitched ball that the catcher cannot handle with ordinary effort and that allows a runner to advance or a batter to reach first on a third strike. The key is ordinary effort. If the pitch is so high, low, or wide that a reasonable catch is not expected, and that miss leads to an advance, the official scorer charges a wild pitch to the pitcher.
Two questions rule the decision. Could an average catcher at this level have stopped it with normal mechanics. Did the miss directly result in a base advance or a batter reaching first on strike three. If both answers support the call, it is a wild pitch.
Core elements of a WP call
Use this checklist to understand or predict the scoring call:
1) The ball is a legal pitch delivered to the batter. Not a pickoff attempt.
2) The pitch requires more than ordinary effort to catch or block. Not simply misplayed.
3) A runner advances at least one base, or the batter reaches first on an uncaught third strike.
4) The official scorer judges the uncatchable nature of the pitch relative to the level of play.
If no runner advances and the batter does not reach, there is no wild pitch. It is just a ball or strike in the count.
Wild Pitch vs Passed Ball
Fans mix these up. Scorers do not. A wild pitch is the pitcher’s fault. A passed ball is the catcher’s fault. The line between them is ordinary effort. On a passed ball, the pitch is one the catcher should have handled with normal skill. When it gets by and leads to an advance, the catcher is charged with a passed ball, not the pitcher with a wild pitch.
Typical wild pitch indicators
– Pitch bounces well in front of the plate.
– Pitch sails far over the catcher’s reach.
– Sharp breaking ball darts hard off the plate late.
– Slider or curve spikes at the front edge of the plate and kicks away.
Typical passed ball indicators
– Fastball in or near the strike zone clanks off the glove.
– Catcher stabs instead of blocking a pitch they should have smothered.
– Properly located pitch hits the catcher’s mitt and is not secured.
– Routine catchable ball dropped with runners advancing.
The official scorer uses context. A knuckleball with extreme movement gets more leeway. Weather, mound conditions, and cross-ups also influence the judgment, but the call still boils down to ordinary effort at that level of play.
How Scoring Works
The wild pitch is charged to the pitcher. It is not an error. Box scores list WP with the pitcher’s name and a total. If multiple pitchers throw wild pitches, each gets their own count. The catcher is not charged with anything for a wild pitch. Passed balls are separate and charged to the catcher.
Earned runs and wild pitches
Runs that score on or after a wild pitch are counted as earned if they would be earned under normal rules. Because a wild pitch is the pitcher’s responsibility, it does not turn a run into an unearned run. In short, a wild pitch does not rescue the ERA. If the only reason the runner scored is a wild pitch, that run is generally earned.
Effect on WHIP and other stats
A wild pitch does not count as a hit or a walk. It does not change WHIP directly. However, a batter who reaches first on an uncaught third strike due to a wild pitch becomes a baserunner. That runner can score. That run can be earned. The pitcher’s line can get worse without a change in hits or walks.
Ball in play and runner advances
The ball remains live on a wild pitch unless it goes out of play. Runners may attempt as many bases as they can take. The scorer credits one wild pitch for the pitch that allowed the initial advance. If further throws create more advancement, those may be charged as errors to fielders. If the pitch goes out of play, the ball becomes dead and base awards follow the rules for a ball out of play. The scorer may still charge a wild pitch if the pitch was uncatchable.
The Third Strike and Wild Pitch
You will see strikeout and wild pitch in the same play description. Here is how that works. On a swinging third strike that is not caught, the batter can attempt first base if first is unoccupied or there are two outs. If the pitch was uncatchable with ordinary effort and the batter reaches safely, it is a strikeout for the pitcher plus a wild pitch. The at-bat ends as a strikeout, but the inning continues with a new runner on first.
Key reminders for the dropped third strike rule
– First base occupied with less than two outs: batter is out even if the ball is not caught.
– First base unoccupied or two outs: batter may attempt to reach first.
– If the miss was due to a wild pitch, the scorer credits WP and the batter reaching has no hit charged.
– Runs scored after such a play are handled under normal earned run rules. A wild pitch does not negate the earned status.
Official Scorer Judgment
The rulebook defines the framework, but a human makes the call. Scorers assess:
– Location: how far off the plate, how high, how low.
– Speed and movement of the pitch.
– Catcher’s positioning and mechanics.
– Typical expectations for the league and venue.
– External factors such as wind, lighting, and the playing surface.
Two different plays can look similar and receive opposite calls if the pitch quality and catchability differ. A mid-zone fastball misplayed is a passed ball. A slider that bounces two feet in front is almost always a wild pitch.
The Catcher’s Role
The catcher is the only player between a tough pitch and a free base. The job is anticipation and technique. When a wild pitch happens, it often starts with pitch selection or command. Still, the catcher can lower the risk with disciplined mechanics.
Pre-pitch setup that reduces wild pitches
– Give a stable target: strong glove presentation in the middle of the zone before the pitch.
– Maintain a balanced stance: weight slightly forward, heels light, hips ready to drop.
– Read the pitch type and count: expect breaking balls in the dirt with two strikes, especially with runners on.
– Get on the same page: clear signs, avoid cross-ups, and adjust depth behind the hitter based on the pitcher’s movement.
Blocking fundamentals
– Beat the ball to the spot: anticipate the bounce path and move early.
– Close the five-hole: drop the knees, tuck the chin, keep elbows tight.
– Chest to the ball: let the chest protector deaden the ball and keep it in front.
– Avoid stabbing with the glove: trust the body block on borderline pitches in the dirt.
– Control the rebound: angle the torso to deaden the ball toward home plate, not to the sides.
With runners on third, every inch matters. Good catchers position slightly shallower, work to center the body, and sell out to keep the ball in front. One clean block can save a run and change the inning.
Receiving vs blocking priority
Framing is valuable, but not at the cost of extra bases. With runners on, especially at third, the catcher should switch from soft framing to block-first mode on any pitch at risk of bouncing. Framing on a low breaking ball is only useful if the ball is actually caught.
Game planning by battery
– Know your pitcher: some sliders dive; some changeups tumble late.
– Pressure counts: with two strikes and a runner on third, consider safer zones unless the count or hitter demands chase pitches.
– Anticipate the miss: if the pitcher tends to miss arm-side and down, start your setup nearer that miss location.
– Communication: mound visits to reset signs and release points when early wildness shows up.
Gear and stance choices
Modern catchers often use a one-knee setup for receiving. That can help framing low pitches but can slow lateral blocking if not trained. The decision is personnel-based. Whatever the stance, the catcher must transition cleanly into a block. Solid chest protector fit, proper shin guards, and a mask that stays secure on impact all matter. Equipment will not stop a wild pitch on its own, but poor gear can turn a borderline block into a disaster.
The Pitcher’s Responsibility
A wild pitch is charged to the pitcher for a reason. Command, not just velocity, decides outcomes. The pitcher can lower wild pitch risk with adjustments:
– Tempo control: rush leads to yanked breaking balls and spiked sliders.
– Grip discipline: consistent pressure prevents accidental over-spin that causes late dive into the dirt.
– Target shrink: aim smaller with runners on; throw through the glove, not to it.
– Miss smart: plan safe misses that stay within the catcher’s block range when chasing swing-and-miss.
– Trust the fastball: when the count or situation penalizes a miss in the dirt, choose the pitch you can command.
Pitch selection is a shared plan. With a runner on third in a tight game, the team should weigh the value of a chase breaking ball against the risk of a 90-foot gift.
Common Game Scenarios
You will see these patterns over and over. Understand them and the scoring decisions get easy.
Runner on first only
The pitch bounces and kicks away. Runner takes second. If the pitch was uncatchable with ordinary effort, score a wild pitch. If the pitch was catchable and the catcher booted it, score a passed ball. If the catcher recovers quickly and the runner stays, no wild pitch, no passed ball.
Runners on first and third
Pitch in the dirt. The catcher drops and blocks but cannot smother. Ball caroms a few feet away. Runner from third breaks and scores. With ordinary effort exceeded, score a wild pitch. If the ball was catchable and simply mishandled, score a passed ball. This call matters to ERA and to the catcher’s stat line.
Bases loaded, two outs
Slider bounces, catcher cannot block, two runners score. One wild pitch covers the initial advance. The second runner scores on the same live-ball play because the ball went far enough. Still one wild pitch unless a subsequent throw causes another advance charged as an error. Both runs can be earned.
Strikeout and batter reaches
Two outs, curveball beneath the zone, swing and miss, uncaught. Batter sprints to first and beats the throw. Score a strikeout and a wild pitch if the pitch was uncatchable. Inning continues. Any runs that score in that inning are earned under normal rules since a wild pitch does not create unearned status.
What a Wild Pitch Is Not
Confusion drops when you know what to exclude.
– A pitch that gets past the catcher but no one advances: no wild pitch.
– A pickoff throw that skips away: not a pitch, scored as a throwing error if runners advance.
– Catcher’s throw on a steal that sails into center: not a wild pitch, that is a throwing error.
– Hit by pitch, even on a bounced ball: dead ball, not a wild pitch.
– Cross-up where catcher never moved: scorer still judges ordinary effort; if the pitch was catchable in general terms and simply missed due to confusion, this can be a passed ball. If the pitch location made it uncatchable, it can still be a wild pitch.
How it Shows in the Box Score
Look for WP under pitching totals. You will see a list like WP: Smith 1. That means the pitcher named Smith was charged with one wild pitch. Passed balls appear under fielding or catching notes as PB with the catcher’s name. Neither wild pitches nor passed balls count as errors.
Play-by-play notation
Live logs mark the event when runners advance. You might see a runner advance with WP as the reason, or a strikeout with batter reaches on wild pitch. The scoring remains simple. Credit one wild pitch to the pitcher for the pitch that created the base advance.
Level of Play Differences
The definition does not change from youth leagues to the majors. The standard of ordinary effort does. A high school catcher facing a hard-breaking slider gets more scoring leeway than a big league veteran. In youth baseball, many balls that reach the backstop on deep bounces will be scored as wild pitches due to realistic expectations. At higher levels, a borderline bounce directly in front of the plate can be a passed ball if the catcher should have blocked it.
Strategy Shifts with Runners on Third
Ninety feet is the most valuable distance on the field. One wild pitch can flip a game. Teams adapt.
– Pitch selection tightens: more fastballs or breaking balls aimed up in the zone rather than at the front edge of the plate.
– Catcher shifts forward: shorter distance to smother bounces.
– Infield readiness: pitcher and catcher practice backstop carom routes to cover home on ricochets.
– Count leverage: with two strikes, pitchers weigh the risk of chase pitches in the dirt more carefully.
Smart teams practice the backstop sprint. Catcher charges, pitcher covers, runner hesitates. One rep can save a run and stop a momentum swing.
Reducing Wild Pitches as a Team
Everyone has a role in prevention.
– Shared scouting: catalog pitch types most likely to spike and time them better.
– Communication plan: clean signs to avoid cross-ups, especially with runners on second.
– Drills: daily blocking work with short-hop machines and unpredictable feeds.
– Mound maintenance: keep the landing spot firm to protect release point.
– In-game feedback: catcher signals when the pitcher’s breaking ball is diving too early and calls for adjustments.
Edge Cases and Clarifications
Baseball has nuance. These spots create questions.
Delayed steals and movement on contact
If a runner takes off late and the pitch is caught cleanly, there is no wild pitch. Any advance is credited to the steal. If the advance begins because the pitch got by, the scorer judges wild pitch or passed ball instead of a steal.
Multiple advances on chaos plays
If a wild pitch sends the ball to the backstop and then an errant throw allows more bases, the scorer charges one wild pitch plus a throwing error on the bad throw. Separate the initial uncatchable pitch from later mistakes.
Dead ball situations
If the pitch goes out of play, the ball is dead and base awards apply under dead-ball rules. The scorer may still charge a wild pitch if the pitch was uncatchable with ordinary effort and the advance stems from that pitch.
Why the Call Matters
Two reasons. First, it apportion blame and learning. Pitchers own wild pitches. Catchers own passed balls. Second, it changes stats that drive jobs and contracts. ERA, game narratives, broadcast discussions, and player evaluation all react to the difference between WP and PB.
Coaches use these calls to guide work. A staff that racks up wild pitches needs command work or different pitch choices with runners on. A catcher with many passed balls needs blocking reps or positioning fixes. Players are not guessing. The scorebook points to the next drill.
Quick Reference
– Wild pitch: uncatchable with ordinary effort, runner advances or batter reaches first on strike three, charged to pitcher.
– Passed ball: catchable with ordinary effort, runner advances, charged to catcher.
– Not an error: WP and PB are separate from errors in the box score.
– Runs after a wild pitch: generally earned under normal rules.
– Ball is live: runners may take more than one base on a wild pitch unless it goes out of play.
Putting It All Together
Watch the location. Watch the movement. Watch the catcher’s body. If the pitch was not gettable with normal mechanics and the base was gained right away, expect wild pitch. If the pitch was gettable and the catcher whiffed, expect passed ball. From there, understand the ripple effects. The pitcher gets the charge on a wild pitch. The run is likely earned. The box score will show it. The game plan should change next time that count and base state appear.
Conclusion
Wild pitches are not background noise. They are windows into command, preparation, and decision-making. You now know what defines a wild pitch, who is held responsible, how runs and stats are affected, and what the catcher can do to prevent the extra 90 feet. The official scorer’s call is not random. It follows a clean standard built on ordinary effort and immediate consequence. Use this lens while watching. You will see risk and reward in every pitch with runners on. You will understand why a catcher sets up differently, why a pitcher changes approach with a man on third, and why a single bounce can swing a game. That is how a wild pitch turns from a mystery into a learned moment.
FAQ
Q: What is a wild pitch
A: A wild pitch is a pitch the catcher cannot handle with ordinary effort that allows a runner to advance or a batter to reach first on an uncaught third strike, and it is charged to the pitcher.
Q: How is a wild pitch different from a passed ball
A: A wild pitch is the pitcher’s fault on an uncatchable pitch, while a passed ball is the catcher’s fault on a catchable pitch that gets by, and both must result in an advance to be scored.
Q: Does a wild pitch count as an error
A: No. A wild pitch is not an error. It is a separate pitching statistic and appears in the box score as WP.
Q: Can a batter reach first base on a wild pitch strikeout
A: Yes. On an uncaught third strike, if first base is unoccupied or there are two outs, the batter may reach first, and if the pitch was uncatchable with ordinary effort the play is scored as a strikeout plus a wild pitch.
Q: Are runs that score on a wild pitch earned or unearned
A: Runs that score on or after a wild pitch are generally earned under normal rules because a wild pitch is the pitcher’s responsibility.