Definition

Noun: - A baseball play: A defensive action in baseball where a fielder, after fielding a batted ball, chooses to attempt to put out a baserunner who is advancing, rather than throwing to first base to try to put out the batter-runner. This play is officially recorded as a fielder's choice, and the batter is not credited with a hit, even if they reach base safely.

Usage

• The term is used to describe a specific type of defensive decision and its resulting play in baseball. It explains why a batter who reaches base is not awarded a hit in the official statistics.
• It is often abbreviated as FC in scorekeeping.

Examples

• The shortstop fielded the ground ball and threw to third base for the force out; the batter reached first on a fielder's choice.
• The official scorer ruled it a fielder's choice because the second baseman chose to get the runner going to second instead of throwing to first.
• His statistics show he was 0-for-3 with a walk and reached base on a fielder's choice.

Advanced Usage

• Scoring Impact: A fielder's choice does not count as a time at bat for the batter, so it does not negatively affect their batting average. However, it also does not count as a hit.
• Strategic Element: The choice made by the fielder is often a strategic decision to prevent a more valuable run from scoring or to get a leading runner out.

Variants and Related Words

• Force out: A related type of out often made on a fielder's choice, where a runner is forced to advance because the batter became a runner.
• Error: A misplay by a fielder. A fielder's choice is distinct; it is a strategic choice, not a mistake. If the fielder fails to get out on the play, it may be scored as an error, not a fielder's choice.

Synonyms

• Defensive choice: (Informal description) The act of choosing which runner to attempt to put out.

Notes

• There are no specific phrasal verbs or idioms for this term, as it is a specialized noun from the sport of baseball. Its usage is confined to describing this specific game situation and its statistical consequence.

Noun

1. a play made on a ground ball in which the fielder chooses to put out an advancing runner instead of the batter