In baseball statistics, a putout (PO) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods:
- Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base (a tagout)
- Catching a batted or thrown ball and tagging a base to put out a batter or runner (a force out, or if done after a flyout, a doubling off)
- Catching a thrown ball and tagging a base to record an out on an appeal play
- Catching a third strike (a strikeout)
- Catching a batted ball on the fly (a flyout)
- Being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference
In a regulation nine-inning game, the winning team will always have a total of 27 putouts, as one putout is awarded for every defensive out made; this is one aspect of proving a box score.
While the abbreviation for putout is "PO",[1] baseball scorekeeping typically records the specific manner in which an out was achieved, without explicitly noting which player is awarded the putout for common plays. For example, a strikeout is recorded without noting the putout by the catcher, with additional detail only provided as needed. For example, "Fryman struck out (catcher to first)"[2] in a play-by-play summary in reference to an out recorded following an uncaught third strike, which indicates the putout was credited to the first baseman rather than the catcher.
