We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Team

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

In Baseball, what is a Hit and Run?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 21,468
Share

A hit and run is a term in baseball that describes a runner on base attempting to steal a base while the batter makes contact with the ball. The runner begins running before the ball is hit, so he must rely on the strength of the player at bat to actually hit the ball. If the batter does not hit the ball, then technically the runner on base is simply trying to steal a base, which will much more likely result in an out.

Teams with poor hitters may attempt the hit and run more frequently than a team with many reliable batters. This is because the play is an attempt to compensate for the lack of good hits of the ball by moving the players forward to the next base. When the strategy works, it can move the team toward getting a few more points. When it fails, it is likely to result in two outs for a team.

A hit and run that fails might resemble this example: The runner on first base advances forward as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. He makes his run before the ball makes contact with the bat. The batter misses the ball or hits a pop-up fly that is quickly caught. The ball is rapidly thrown to the second baseman before the runner gets there. The end result is two outs.

The play is successful when the batter makes contact with the ball, and sends it far enough away that the runner has time to successfully steal the base. Occasionally, it can become the even more risky bunt and run, where the player simply hits the ball a yard (meter) or two. This can also result in two outs, or three if players on second and third base attempt to run.

In fact, the triple play, getting three players out, is much more likely with the hit and run strategy. If two players on base stay on base until the ball is securely in the air, they are still safe. If they run, and the hitter strikes out or hits a pop fly that is caught, it ends the inning, if the other two players can’t make it to the next base. Generally, this play won’t be attempted unless the runners on base are reasonably certain the hitter has a good shot at hitting the ball.

Share
Sports n' Hobbies is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a Sports n' Hobbies contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
By anon102627 — On Aug 09, 2010

Wrong! In the caught pop fly ball the runners have to go back to the base where they were before the ball was hit not get to the next base!

By JerseyJoe — On Jul 06, 2008

“Hit and run” is a baseball misnomer. A more descriptive term is “run and hit,” because the runner takes the first action. Therefore, the batter is expected to “lay good wood on the pitch” with a hit to right field behind the advancing runner or to foul off repeated pitches to protect the runner thus avoiding a ground ball double play, the intent of the “run and hit” strategy in the first instance.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a Sports n' Hobbies contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.sportsnhobbies.org/in-baseball-what-is-a-hit-and-run.htm
Copy this link
Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.