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A strikeout is recorded when a batter receives three strikes. Usually, the batter is out on strike three. If the catcher does not catch that third strike, however, the batter may run to first when the base is unoccupied or there are two outs. Reaching safely does not erase the strikeout.
What counts as a strikeout?
A batter strikes out after three strikes, whether they swing at the pitches, take them, or do both. A foul ball counts as a strike, but cannot be strike three. A foul tip caught by the catcher is different: it counts as strike three. See MLB’s strikeout definition.
When can a batter run to first on an uncaught third strike?
The common name is a “dropped third strike,” but the catcher does not have to literally drop the ball. A pitch that bounces before the catcher catches it can also qualify. The batter may try for first if either of these conditions is true:
- First base is unoccupied.
- There are two outs, even if first base is occupied.
If first is occupied with fewer than two outs, the batter is out and cannot use this opportunity. MLB explains the uncaught-third-strike rule.
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How can the defense get the batter out?
When the batter is entitled to run, the defense can retire them by tagging them or by making a force play at first before they reach the base. The batter must get there safely; an uncaught third strike does not guarantee they reach first.
Does reaching first safely still count as a strikeout?
Yes. The batter and pitcher are credited with a strikeout even if the batter reaches first safely. The official scorer also records the pitch as a passed ball or wild pitch, depending on whether, in the scorer’s judgment, the catcher should have held it. MLB’s passed-ball definition describes that scoring distinction.
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How does MLB’s 2026 ABS challenge rule differ?
MLB’s 2026 ABS Challenge System has a special case: if the catcher drops a pitch initially called a ball and the call is overturned to strike three, the batter is out without needing to be tagged or to touch first. That is different from the ordinary uncaught-third-strike rule, which can let the batter attempt to reach first under the conditions above. MLB’s ABS Challenge System explainer describes the procedure; the 2026 rules index links to the Official Rules PDF.
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