Baseball Glossary › Putout
Putout (PO)
A putout (PO) is credited to the fielder who physically completes an out. That means catching a fly ball or line drive, catching a throw while touching a base for a force out, tagging a runner, or catching a third strike. Every out in a game produces exactly one putout for some fielder.
What to Know
Putout vs assist: the putout goes to the player who finishes the out, while an assist goes to any fielder who touched the ball before that. On a routine 5-3 groundout, the third baseman (position 5) fields and throws, so he gets the assist, and the first baseman (position 3) catches the throw on the bag, so he gets the putout. Scorers use position numbers: 1 pitcher, 2 catcher, 3 first base, 4 second base, 5 third base, 6 shortstop, 7 left field, 8 center field, 9 right field.
Strikeouts are putouts for the catcher, which is why catchers and first basemen pile up the biggest putout totals. A fielder who handles the ball alone, such as a first baseman who fields a grounder and steps on the bag, records an unassisted putout.
Putouts are one of the three building blocks of total chances and fielding percentage. Because they depend so heavily on position, raw putout totals say little about defensive skill on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PO in baseball?
PO stands for putout. It is credited to the fielder who physically records an out, whether by catching a batted ball, catching a throw while touching a base, tagging a runner or catching a third strike.
What is the difference between a putout and an assist?
The putout goes to the fielder who completes the out. An assist goes to each fielder who touched the ball before the out was made, most often by throwing it. On one play there is one putout but there can be several assists.
Who gets the putout on a 5-3 groundout?
The first baseman. In scorebook notation 5 is the third baseman and 3 is the first baseman. The third baseman fields the ball and throws it, earning an assist, and the first baseman catches it on the base for the putout.
Does the catcher get a putout on a strikeout?
Yes. When a strikeout is recorded, the catcher is credited with the putout because he catches the third strike. That is one reason catchers finish among the league leaders in putouts every season.
What is an unassisted putout?
An unassisted putout happens when one fielder records the out with no help, for example a first baseman who fields a ground ball and steps on first himself. No assist is credited because no other fielder touched the ball.
Is a high putout total a sign of a good fielder?
Not by itself. Putout totals depend mostly on position: catchers and first basemen collect far more than shortstops or outfielders. Range-based measures such as Outs Above Average say more about defensive skill.
Related Terms
Sources
LV Athletics is an independent fan site and is not affiliated with the Athletics or Major League Baseball.