When any part of a batter's body (including the hands while placed on the bat) is hit with a pitched ball, he is awarded first base. There are some exceptions. It is not considered a hit batsman if the pitch hits the batter inside of the strikezone (that is a strike), or if the hitter makes no attempt to avoid the pitch (that pitch is called either a ball or a strike depending upon the location of the pitch). Also, if the batter swings at the pitch, it is considered a strike even if the hitter is hit by the pitch.
Note that it is still considered a hit by pitch if the pitch bounces from the ground into a player. If a pitch hits a batter's clothing, that is also considered a hit by pitch.
A hitter is not credited with an at bat or a hit. But, he is credited with a time on base and a plate appearance. So, a HBP improves a player's on-base % without lowering his batting average.
The hit by pitch can be a painful way to reach base. In the modern era, no player was hit by more pitches than Ron Hunt of the Montreal Expos. Hunt's motto was, "Some people give their bodies to science; I give mine to baseball." Hunt led the National League in getting hit by pitch in each of his final 7 seasons. Most years, he was hit about 25 times. But, in 1971 Ron Hunt set the modern day record by getting hit 50 times in one season!
In 1969, Ron Hunt tied a record by getting hit three times in a single game! When he retired, his 243 HBP's were a career record. Hunt insisted that he never deliberately got hit by a pitch, but many opposing pitchers disagreed with his claim. Since then, Craig Biggio topped that career record by getting hit an astounding 285 times.
2011 Chicagoland Tournament Champions & 2011 Lombard Tournament Champions!
