Hit by pitch: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

In baseball, being hit by a pitch refers to the batter being hit in some part of the body by a pitch from the pitcher. In baseball statistics, hit by pitch (denoted by HBP) records the number of times a batter is awarded first base by virtue of being hit by a pitched ball. In pitching statistics it also records the number of times a batter opposing the pitcher is awarded first base due to being hit by a pitch.

The rules dictate that a batter is to be awarded a base only if he is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit, unless the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or the batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball.

It is often incorrectly thought that a hit by pitch cannot be awarded on a pitch that has touched the ground. Such a bouncing pitch is like any other, and if a batter is hit by such a pitch, he will be awarded first unless he made no attempt to avoid it.