A walk — or base on balls — is when a batter gets four balls (pitches outside the strike zone he doesn’t swing at) and advances free to first base. It rewards a disciplined batter and punishes a pitcher’s lack of control.
Reaching base without a hit
It’s not a hit, but it’s gold: it puts a runner on without risking an out. Batters with a good «eye» who lay off bad pitches pile up walks and raise their on-base percentage (OBP), one of the keys to the modern game.
The intentional walk
Sometimes the other team would rather walk a batter on purpose than face a dangerous hitter. Barry Bonds was walked so often that he holds the record: 688 intentional walks in his career, proof of the fear he struck at the plate.
FAQ
How many balls is a walk?
Four.
Does a walk count as a hit?
No, but it puts you on base and raises your OBP.
