What Is A PO In Baseball | How This Simple Term Can Transform Your Game

Last Updated on July 20, 2023

If you are a baseball fan, then you must know a lot of baseball terms. But do you know What Is a PO in Baseball and how it can affect your game?

Many of your fellow players or even some coaches might say PO, or Putout, just a term. No, it is more than that.

A putout gives you important insights into defensive player performance. But, why should you care? Well, putouts can make or break your game. Let’s learn more about putout and pump up your game and impress your coach, teammates, and fans.

What Is a PO in Baseball?

A putout is when a defensive player gets an offensive player out by himself, without any help from his teammates. For example, if a fielder catches a fly ball, tags a runner, or touches a base for a force-out, he gets a putout.

A putout is one of the main statistics used to measure a player’s defensive ability and contribution to the team.

Understanding PO can be a game-changer. As a player, knowing PO can help you anticipate plays, make informed decisions, and ultimately, enhance your performance. 

As a fan, PO can enrich your viewing experience, providing deeper insights into the game’s strategies and player performances.

Did You Know:  In a typical baseball game, about 75% of outs are putouts.

According to MLB, catchers and first basemen usually have the highest putout totals.  They catch pitches that result in strikeouts and throws on ground-ball outs. 

However, other fielders can also rack up putouts by making spectacular plays in the field. In 2018, Lorenzo Cain of the Milwaukee Brewers had 395 putouts as an outfielder, the most among all non-catchers and non-first basemen 

Let’s see some of the key points of Putout in baseball- 

• A putout can happen in different ways, depending on the situation. Some of the most common methods are catching a fly ball, tagging a runner, touching a base for a force-out, catching a third strike, or being closest to a runner who interferes with the play.
• A putout is credited to the fielder who physically records the out, not the one who assists him. 
• A putout can also be unassisted or assisted. An unassisted putout is when a fielder makes the out by himself, without throwing the ball to anyone else. An assisted putout is when a fielder makes the out with the help of another fielder who throws him the ball.
• A putout can vary depending on the position of the player. Catchers and first basemen usually have the most putouts. Outfielders and infielders can also have high putouts if they make spectacular catches or tags in the field.
• A putout can also vary depending on the season and the league. The record for the most putouts by any player in a single major-league season is 1,846 by Jiggs Donahue, a first baseman with the 1907 Chicago White Sox. 

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Common Ways to Get Putout

Baseball is a dynamic game. Understanding different stats will level up your game. To understand putout fully, you will also have to know the way to get putout. 

These are some of the most common ways to get a putout-

Catching a Fly Ball

One of the easiest ways to get a putout is to catch a fly ball or a line drive before it touches the ground. This means that the batter is out and any runners on base must return to their original base or risk being doubled off. 

Tagging a Runner or a Base

Tagging a runner or a base with the ball can happen in different situations. When a runner tries to steal a base, when a runner tries to advance on a batted ball, or when a batter tries to reach first base are some of the instances. 

Catching a Third Strike

Catching a third strike means that the batter is out and cannot run to first base unless the third strike is uncaught and there is no runner on first base. 

These are some of the most common ways to get putout in baseball. There are other ways, such as being closest to a runner who interferes with the play, but they are less frequent and more situational. 

Putouts are important because they show how good you are at making outs and preventing runs. They also affect other statistics, such as fielding percentage and defensive efficiency.

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What Makes a Putout (PO) Essential In The Baseball Game?

You may be wondering, “Why putout is so important in baseball?”

If you want to know what occurred, who did it, and how many points they got, this is the first step you need to take.

A putout is the backbone of many advanced baseball scoring plays. Mainly, it aids the game’s official scorer in tallying each side’s highlights, results, and outcomes.

Now you may ask, how are putouts calculated?

Simple! It’s calculated by adding up all the outs a player makes by himself in a game, season, or career. 

Let’s understand it with a simple example. Suppose a player catches three fly balls, tags two runners, and catches one-third strike in a game, he has six putouts for that game. 

If he does that for 162 games in a season, he has 972 putouts for that season. If he does that for 10 seasons in his career, he has 9,720 putouts for his career.

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PO in Baseball History

The history of baseball is filled with great instances of PO. Let’s take a look at them- 

Jiggs Donahue’s Record-Breaking Season

In 1907, Jiggs Donahue, a first baseman for the Chicago White Sox, set the record for the most putouts by any player in a single major-league season with 1,846. He also led the American League in fielding percentage (.995) and assists (137) that year. 

Charlie Grimm’s Record

In 1923, Charlie Grimm, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, set the record for the most putouts in a single season with an astounding 1,739.

Willie Mays’ The Catch

In the 1954 World Series, Willie Mays, an outfielder for the New York Giants, made an amazing catch in Game 1 against the Cleveland Indians. Mays’ catch saved the game for the Giants, who went on to sweep the series. Look at the video yourself.

Don Mattingly’s Unassisted Triple Play

On July 11, 1994, Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees made history by executing an unassisted triple play, a rare feat involving three putouts in a single play.

Randy Johnson’s Perfect Game

On May 18, 2004, Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves. This game involved 27 consecutive putouts without a single batter reaching base, a rare and remarkable achievement.

Yadier Molina’s Milestone

In 2021, Yadier Molina, a catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, became the sixth player in MLB history to record 15,000 career putouts.

Putout and Pitcher Only in Baseball: How Do They Differ?

As the name suggests, a “pitcher only” is a player who is just there to pitch the ball. In collegiate and high school baseball, this is standard practice.

Sometimes, a coach would choose a student with a very good arm and teach them to be the team’s pitcher. Remember that the Pitcher Only in this context is limited to the pitching field.

When a fielder throws out a hitter or baserunner, this is called a putout. They do this by grabbing the ball and then tagging the hitter as he tries to move to the next base.

Keep in mind that, unlike their counterparts in high school and college leagues, players on MLB teams are competent in most areas, with the possible exception of being highly specialized in one. This is why we can keep our roster open to pitchers.

Many pitchers often do the bulk movement. It is one illegal movement and faking pick off attempt is also one of them.

How Are PO and Assist Different?

When it comes down to it, PO and assist are pretty much the same. The only variation is when a fielder immediately tags out a hitter. It is known as PO (Putout).

When the fielder throws the ball toward the shortstop instead of the batter or runner. It is called Assist.

Here, the only difference is who gets the batter or runner out.

When a fielder and shortstop work together to get a batter out, they get points for PO.

What Is an Unassisted Putout?

You will often see in baseball that a fielder is responsible for making the out by touching a base or tagging the runner. An unassisted Putout describes this situation.

Compared to regular putouts, unassisted ones are rare. Middle infielders use them regularly on balls hit up the middle to turn a double play.

This video of Jay Bruce making an unassisted putout will clarify your concept.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who Led the MLB in Putouts in 2021?

Freddie Freeman, first baseman for the Atlanta Braves, with 1,252 putouts in 2021, the most in Major League Baseball.

2. Who Is the Active Leader in Career Putouts?

After 21 years in the Major Leagues, Albert Pujols has the most putouts among current players. Yadier Molina, the catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals for the last 17 years, is close behind with 14,720 putouts. Pujols and Molina will be Hall of Famers, but not for their putouts.

3. Why Are Pitchers Called PO?

In baseball, a “PO” may mean either “putout” or “pitcher only.”  Anyone who makes a complete out on the field receives credit for a putout (PO). Recording an out need some actions.

4. How Do You Become a Baseball PO?

Getting outs in baseball is often done by touching a base first before the batter or runner gets there on a force play, tagging the runner, catching the hit ball, or catching the third strike.

Final Words

In this dynamic game of baseball, understanding What Is a PO in Baseball can leverage your game. 

If you’re aiming to enhance your performance, mastering PO can provide a deeper insight into the game’s dynamics. The history of Baseball Putout is filled with remarkable instances. So, knowing PO will give you a deeper knowledge of baseball games and make the game more interesting to you.

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