Single (baseball)

Definition and scoring

A batter is credited with a single when he reaches first base on a batted ball in fair territory and no error or fielder's choice is charged by the official scorer. The batted ball must be played without the defense recording an out on the batter-runner. If the play results in a defensive misplay that, in the scorer's judgment, allowed the batter to reach first (such as a misfield or bad throw), the play is ruled a fielder's error and no single is awarded.

Common types of singles

• Line-drive single: a hard-hit ball that reaches a gap or an outfielder's area too quickly to make a play.
• Infield single: a sharply batted or slow-rolling ball that stays in the infield but the batter reaches first safely, often due to speed or a crowded throw.
• Bunt single: a batter successfully bunts and runs to first ahead of the throw.
• Inside-the-park single: the ball stays in play and the batter advances to first (or farther) without the defense recording an out and without an error being charged; often the result of unusual bounces or defensive positioning.
• Blooper or "Texas Leaguer": a soft, short fly that drops between infielders and outfielders for a single.

Rules, exceptions and scorer judgment

Two common exceptions prevent a play from being scored as a single: a fielder's choice and a charged error. On a fielder's choice, an infielder attempts to retire another baserunner instead of the batter; even if the batter reaches first safely, the play is scored a fielder's choice rather than a hit. When a defensive misplay directly allows the batter to reach base, the scorer usually rules an error. Determinations often depend on the difficulty of the defensive play and whether a routine play was missed.

Importance and effects

Singles drive offensive production by putting a runner on base and creating scoring opportunities. They can produce runs batted in (RBIs) when a runner scores on the hit, unless the run scores after a subsequent error. Singles are one of the primary building blocks in measures of contact ability and consistency; hitters who accumulate many singles often have high hit totals and sustained batting averages.

For further detail on the formal rules and scoring decisions, consult official scoring guidelines and explanations of fair and foul balls, such as the definitions of a fair ball and scorer procedure.