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What Is A PO In Baseball? (Mastering The Basics)

Written by Chris 

Published on February 22, 2024

Baseball is a game filled with special terms, and "PO" is one that every baseball fan should know. Curious about what PO in baseball means? It's short for "putout." If you're looking to get a clear understanding of this term, you're in the right place.


This article explores the role of putouts in baseball, explaining who gets credited with a putout and why they're significant in both strategy and gameplay. We provide a straightforward guide on everything about the term PO, from basic explanations to detailed insights into specific situations, helping fans at all levels deepen their knowledge of the game's defensive aspects.

What Does PO Mean In Baseball?

If you've ever watched a Major League Baseball game, you probably understand what a strikeout or an out means. But do you know about other obscure baseball terms that announcers don't mention as often during the game? Terms like putouts, assists, QAB, and immaculate inning.


The best way to explain it is when a defensive baseball player gets an out themselves. They either caused the out through their action, like catching a fly ball or possessing the ball when the umpire ruled the hitter or runner out. 

There are four most common ways in which a defensive player can get a putout:

These include:

When catchers catch the third strike resulting in an out

Catching line drives or a pop fly before it hits the ground

If a defensive position player tags a runner while the ball is in their glove

Stepping on the base before the runner on a force out

Why Putouts Matter in the Game

Putouts are important for assessing a player’s defensive skills. They are especially important for middle infielders, like shortstops and second basemen, who often have a number of opportunities to make plays.

  • Individual Performance: Putouts are key indicators of a player's defensive skill, awareness, and contribution to the team.
  • Team Strategy: Putouts provide insights into how teams coordinate defense, create successful plays, and respond to opponents' offensive strategies.
  • Game Analysis: Tracking putouts helps coaches understand game patterns, player development, and strategic adjustments.

Knowing why putouts are important helps you enjoy baseball more. It's not just about one play. It's about how everything in the game fits together.

What Is An Assist In Baseball And How Is It Different From A Putout?

Putouts and assists often go hand-in-hand in baseball, but they're not the same thing. The player who makes the final action leading to the out receives a putout, while a player who helps make the out but doesn't complete it earns an assist (or 'A').


An assist in baseball occurs when one fielder fields the hit ball and throws it to another player to record the out. For example, if the shortstop throws it to second for the force-out, they earn the assist.


The relationship between these two terms can be illustrated through common plays:

Double Plays: Let's say a ground ball is hit to the shortstop, who throws it to the second baseman, getting the runner out who was advancing from first to second base. Then the second baseman throws to the first baseman, getting the batter out. In this situation, the shortstop and second baseman are awarded assists, while the second and first basemen receive put outs.

Multiple Assists Scenario: Sometimes, more than one assist can be involved in a single putout. A good example, is when the right fielder throws the ball to the cutoff, who then throws to the third baseman to tag a runner out. Both the left fielder and shortstop receive assists, while the third baseman gets the putout.

A fielder can earn an assist simply by touching the ball before the out, even if unintentionally. For example, if a line drive bounces off the pitcher and the first baseman catches it for an out, the pitcher earns an assist.

What is an unassisted putout?

An unassisted putout in baseball occurs when a defensive player makes an out without any help from other players. This typically happens when the fielder catches a ball in the air or tags a base or a runner with the ball in hand, leading directly to an out.

Some common examples of unassisted putouts include:

Catching a Fly Ball or Line Drive: When a fielder catches a fly ball or line drive before it touches the ground, it results in an unassisted putout.

Tag Plays: If a fielder tags a runner while holding the ball before the runner reaches a base, it's considered an unassisted putout.

Force Plays at a Base: In situations where a runner is forced to advance to the next base, a fielder can record an unassisted putout by catching the ball and touching the base before the runner arrives.

Unassisted Triple Plays: This rare event occurs when a fielder makes all three outs of an inning unassisted, often by catching a line drive, tagging a base, and then tagging a runner.

Unusual and Rare Putouts

While many putouts occur through routine plays, baseball also offers a stage for some truly unique and rare putouts.

The hidden ball trick, where a fielder deceives a runner into leaving the base and then tags them out.

Putouts resulting from obscure rules, such as a batter being called out for stepping on the plate while swinging.

Is A Strikeout A Putout For The Catcher Or Pitcher?

When there's a strikeout, the catcher usually gets credit for the putout. This happens when the batter either swings at and misses the third strike, or the umpire calls it. If it's a dropped third strike and the batter attempts to reach first base, the first baseman or another fielder may receive the putout if they throw the batter out.


You might think that pitchers would earn an assist after a strikeout if you understand the concept of assists and putouts. However, the MLB rulebook states that pitchers do not receive an assist after a strikeout.

How Does A Catcher Get A PO In Baseball?

There are a few situations that exist where a catcher earns a putout. For example, a catcher receives a putout when a batter strikes out, as discussed earlier. Catchers also get putout credit for throwing out base stealers, and runners after bunt attempts. 

Other scenarios where a catcher earns a putout:

If the offensive player is batting out of order and is ruled out

If a hitter attempts to bunt with two strikes and fouls a ball off and the ball hits the ground

If the hitter is touched by his own batted ball

If there is a play at the plate and an out is made by either forceout or applying a tag by the catcher  

A catcher could be credited with an assist on a strikeout if it was a passed ball and they had to throw down to first base

What catcher has the most putouts in MLB history?

As of August 2022, Yadier Molina holds the MLB record with 15,040 career putouts. He passed Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez on June 14th, 2022. Rodriguez previously held the record with 14,864 putouts. 

What Positions Get The Most Putouts In Baseball?

First baseman and catcher are the two positions that record the most putouts in baseball. However, of the top 45 putout leaders in baseball history, only Yadier Molina was not a first baseman. He came in at number 45.


Understandably, these two positions record the most putouts as they touch the ball most frequently. Even if pitchers got credit for strikeouts, they probably still wouldn’t crack the top 45 since they aren’t everyday players. 

MLB Putout Leaders (Career)
RANK PLAYER NAME # OF PUTOUTS DEFENSIVE POSITION
1 Jake Beckley 23,743 1st Base
2 Cap Anson 22,572 1st Base
3 Ed Konetchy 21,378 1st Base
4 Eddie Murray 21,265 1st Base
5 Charlie Grimm 20,722 1st Base
6 Stuffly Mcinnis 20.120 1st Base
7 Mickey Vermon 19,819 1st Base
8 Jake Daubert 15,634 1st Base
9 Lou Gehrig 15,525 1st Base
10 Joe Kuhel 19,386 1st Base

MLB career putout leaders

MLB Putout Leaders (Single Season)
RANK PLAYER NAME # OF PUTOUTS DEFENSIVE POSITION
1 Jiggs Donahue 1,846 1st Base/Catcher
2 George Kelly 1,759 1st Base
3 Phil Todt 1755 1st Base
4 Wally Pipp 1710 1st Base
5 Jiggs Donahue 1997 Ist Base/Catcher
6 George LaChance 2001 1st/Shortstop
7 Tom Jones 1687 Ist Base
8 Emie Banks 1682 Ist Base/Shortstop
9 Wally Pipp 1667 Ist Base
10 Lou Gehrig 1662 1st Base

MLB Single-season putout leader

MLB Assist Leaders (Career)
RANK PLAYER NAME # OF ASSISTS DEFENSIVE POSITION
1 Rabbit Maranville 8,567 Shortstop/2nd Base
2 Orzie Smith 8,375 Shortstop
3 Cal Ripken Jr 8,234 Shortstop/and Base
4 Bill Dahlen 8,138 Shortstop
5 Omar Vizquel 8,050 Shortstop
6 Luis Aparicio 8,006 Shortstop
7 Eddie Collins 7,736 2nd Base
8 Luke Appling 7,543 Shortstop
9 Tommy Corcoran 7,509 Shortstop
10 Bobby Wallace 7,465 Shortstop/Pitcher

MLB career assist leaders

MLB Assist Leaders (Single Season)
RANK PLAYER NAME # OF ASSISTS DEFENSIVE POSITION
1 Ozzie Smith 621 Shortstop
2 Glenn Wright 601 Shortstop
3 Dave Bancroft 598 Shortstop
4 Tommy Thevenow 597 Shortstop / 2nd Base / 3rd Base
5 Ivan de Jesu 535 Shortstop
6 Cal Ripken Jr. 583 Shortstop / 3rd Base
7 Whitey Wietelmann 581 Shortstop / 2nd Base / 3rd Base
8 Dave Bancroft 589 Shortstop
9 Rabbit Maranville 574 Shortstop / 2nd Base
10 Don Kessinger 573 Shortstop / 2nd Base

MLB single-season assist leaders

What Is A 5-3 Putout In Baseball?

Before we can answer this question, we want to make sure you understand how different numbers represent different defensive positions in baseball. 

Baseball positions by numbers:
  1. Pitcher 
  2. Catcher
  3. 1st baseman
  4. 2nd baseman
  5. 3rd baseman
  6. Shortstop
  7. Left fielder
  8. Center fielder
  9. Right fielder 

If you look at the chart above the number five represents the third baseman and the number three represents the first baseman. So the term is where the third baseman fielded a hit and threw to first base for the out.


Let’s do another example. What is a 3-1 putout in baseball? Looking at the chart again, you’ll see that 3 is the first baseman and 1 is the pitcher.


So, now you’re thinking how this can be possible since the pitcher would have to throw to the first baseman to record the out. Well, how about if the batter hits a ball to first but it pulls the first baseman off of the bag? The pitcher is supposed to cover on plays like this. So if they receive the ball from the first baseman and tag the base, they’d get the putout. 

What Is A 9-3 Putout?

A 9-3 putout is when the right fielder fields a ball in the outfield and throws the hitter out at first base. For this to work, there would have to be a few factors in play. Firstly, the hitter would either have to be extremely slow or they weren't hustling out of the box.


Secondly, the batter would have to hit the ball pretty hard, and the outfielder would have to be playing somewhat shallow. Throws closer to the foul line have a better chance than those from the right-center gap. A 9-3 putout is rare because coaches usually teach players not to throw to first base from the outfield.

 

Check out some of these 9-3 MLB putouts
Poster

The Term "Pitcher Only" (PO) Explained

People commonly use 'PO' to denote a putout. However, it can also refer to the term 'Pitcher Only.' Teams often apply this term to a player specifically for their pitching skills, and that player does not play other positions or hit in the lineup. It signifies specialization in the role of a pitcher. It also helps coaches, players, and fans quickly identify the player's main function within the team.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're playing or just a casual fan, having this knowledge not only helps you follow the game more closely but also deepens your connection to this sport. As you watch the next game, pay attention to the putouts. See how this newfound understanding adds a new layer to your baseball experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Putout (PO) in Baseball?

In baseball, a putout (PO) occurs when a defensive player directly causes an out. This can happen in various ways, such as an outfielder catching a fly ball, or a shortstop tagging a runner.

Can a Relief Pitcher Earn a Putout?

Yes, a relief pitcher can earn a putout, typically by covering first base on a ground ball or catching a popped-up bunt themselves. Their role in putouts, though less frequent than infielders, is an important aspect of their defensive game.

What is an Appeal Play in the Context of a Putout?

An appeal play is a special type of putout that occurs when the defensive team claims a rule violation by the batting team, like missing a base. The umpire can rule the runner out if the appeal is valid.

What is a Dropped Third Strike and How Does it Relate to Putouts?

A dropped third strike occurs when a catcher fails to catch the third strike cleanly. The batter can then attempt to reach first base, and the defensive team has the opportunity to make a putout by throwing the batter out at first.