base on balls
base on balls — noun
1. In baseball, a free trip to first base given to the batter when the pitcher thro
In baseball, a free trip to first base given to the batter when the pitcher throws four pitches that are not inside the strike zone, without the batter having to swing the bat.
The pitcher lost control and issued a base on balls to the lead-off batter.
collocation: issue a base on balls
Drawing a base on balls is smart when a pitcher struggles with accuracy.
collocation: draw a base on balls
The scorekeeper recorded a base on balls and charged the pitcher with a walk.
With the bases loaded, a base on balls forced the runner at third to score.
The coach told the team a base on balls helps as much as a hit.
- walk
Informal, everyday term. Use in conversation; reserve 'base on balls' for official rulebooks and formal statistics.
- free pass
Informal descriptive phrase, less common in official scoring but widely understood by fans.
- four-pitch walk
A specific subtype where all four balls are thrown consecutively with no strikes; less common.
- strikeout
The opposite outcome — the batter fails to hit the ball and receives three strikes, leaving the batter out.
文法句型
base on balls + verb (singular)
draw/earn/issue + a base on balls
用法筆記
Base on balls is the formal, rulebook term. In everyday baseball conversation, players and fans nearly always say walk instead. Both terms mean exactly the same thing and are used interchangeably in sports writing, though base on balls sounds more technical.