Wild Pitch

A wild pitch (WP) is a pitch that is so errant, too high, too low, or too wide, that a catcher using ordinary effort cannot be expected to stop or control it, and as a result, one or more baserunners advance.

Wild Pitch vs. Passed Ball

The critical distinction between a wild pitch and a passed ball is responsibility:

• Wild pitch (WP): The pitch was beyond the catcher's reasonable ability to stop. Charged to the pitcher.
• Passed ball (PB): The pitch was catchable, but the catcher failed to handle it. Charged to the catcher.

The official scorer makes this judgment on each play. A pitch in the dirt that a catcher with ordinary skill could have blocked is a passed ball if the catcher doesn't get in front of it. A pitch that bounces six feet in front of the plate or sails to the backstop is a wild pitch regardless of catcher effort.

When Runners Advance

A wild pitch becomes live when the catcher fails to field it. Runners may attempt to advance at their own risk. The most common outcomes:

• A runner on third scores on a wild pitch in the dirt (walk-off possibilities exist)
• Runners on base advance one or more bases depending on how far the pitch gets

If a wild pitch occurs on strike three with first base unoccupied or with two outs, the batter may attempt to reach first on the dropped third strike rule.

Statistical Impact

Wild pitches count against the pitcher's stats but not as earned runs unless a pitcher's wildness directly leads to runs scoring in unusual ways. They are tracked as WP in the scorebook and in pitcher statistics alongside walks, strikeouts, and hit batters.

Coaching Points

For pitchers: consistent arm slot and release point reduce wild pitches. Pitches that sail or bounce erratically often stem from mechanical inconsistency, changed release point, rushed delivery, or grip issues.

For catchers: blocking technique is a separate skill from catching. Learning to block low pitches in the dirt, dropping to the knees, angling the body to funnel the ball downward, prevents wild pitches from becoming scoring opportunities.