What Is a Full Count in Baseball?

Unlock the Secrets of Baseball's Most Intense Moment: The Full Count
Written by Mark Bailey
Last updated on

A full count in baseball is a situation where the batter has three balls and two strikes, meaning the next pitch will result in either a walk, strikeout, or the ball being put into play. It’s a high-stress moment that can be pivotal for both the pitcher and the batter.

KEY
POINTS
  • A full count in baseball is when a hitter accumulates two strikes and three balls in a single at-bat.
  • Hitters must be selective with pitches they swing at, while pitchers use gamesmanship to extend the count.
  • Baserunners will take a head start when there are runners on base. Pitchers must throw a strike or get the hitter to swing at a pitch outside of the strike zone, and catchers will use chatter to distract the hitter.
  • Hitters protect the plate by getting closer to home plate or choking up on the bat, while pitchers throw breaking balls or fastballs depending on their style or game scenario.

Definition of a full count

The definition of a “full count” is when a hitter has accumulated two strikes and three balls in a single at-bat. The next pitch in the at-bat is the final pitch that the hitter will see unless they hit a foul ball. According to baseball rules, a hitter with two strikes cannot strike out by hitting another foul ball. A hitter strikes out when they swing and miss for the third strike or if the umpire calls the pitch a strike. If the hitter swings and makes contact but hits the ball in foul territory, their at-bat will continue.

One interesting fact is that a full count can last indefinitely. Proof of this happened in 2018 during a Giants-Angels regular season game (there have been longer at-bats during spring training). Brandon Belt of the SF Giants saw 21 pitches from Jaime Barria in a single at-bat, which is the current MLB record:

How full counts are achieved

In baseball, there is a term called “gamesmanship.” It refers to subtle strategic matchups and strategies geared towards individual players or moments of a game. In the context of a full count, batters must be selective regarding what pitches they swing at to see more pitches during an at-bat. Hitters have different philosophies and approaches to hitting. Some hitters have their minds made up that they are swinging at the first pitch and will be aggressive through the entire at-bat.

Other hitters are more selective and do what is called “sitting on a pitch,” meaning they are waiting for the pitcher to throw one certain pitch. Some hitters sit on a fastball, some on a breaking ball, and if they don’t see one, they don’t swing as much. Players with this mindset will lay off pitches outside the strike zone, increasing the number of pitches they see.

On the other hand, pitchers use gamesmanship for an individual batter, which may extend the count on purpose. For example, some hitters like to stand closer to home plate, which most major league pitchers don’t like. When this happens, pitchers will waste a pitch by purposely throwing a ball out of the strike zone to either intimidate a hitter or force them to back off the plate. When pitchers use this strategy, they throw more called balls, ultimately leading to more full counts. 

Randy Johnson is considered one of the modern-day masters of using intimidation and fear by purposely throwing a ball with no intention of it being a strike. This style creates more full counts, but when you’re the Big Unit, it doesn’t matter. Stop to consider: what if a 100 mph fastball zipped right over your head on the first pitch? Watch this at-bat from the 1993 MLB All-Star Game. It does not go to a full count, but you can see the strategy Johnson uses by wasting one pitch and what it does to hitters:

What happens on a full count

When a pitcher and batter are in a full count situation, many different things can happen for different reasons depending on the game scenario. Below is a quick breakdown of what to expect:

Baserunners

If there are baserunners, they are trained to start running to the next base as soon as the pitcher pitches the ball. The reason for this is to give the runners a head start if the ball is hit into play and makes it more difficult for the defense to get a double play if there are fewer than two outs. If there are two outs, then the likelihood of them getting forced out also decreases.

Pitchers

With three balls already on the board, pitchers know that one more pitch outside the strike zone puts a runner on base. Because of that, pitchers will throw a pitch within the strike zone, which gives hitters a better chance of making contact because they know the pitcher must throw a strike.

Catchers

There are no rules that say catchers cannot talk to hitters. In baseball strategy, this is known as “working the hitter.” When there is a full count, hitters will be laser-focused on seeing the next pitch, so crafty catchers will attempt to distract them with chatter. Legend has it that Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter excelled at working hitters and even got the legendary Tony Gwynn to strike out by telling him what pitch was coming every time (which most hitters hate, by the way).

Strategies for full counts

When there is a full count, we’ve discussed what baserunners, pitchers, and catchers will do to help their team gain an advantage, but aside from that, it is a one-on-one matchup of strategies between the hitter and pitcher. With a full count, a hitter must protect the plate, and the pitcher must throw a strike or get the hitter to swing at a ball outside of the strike zone. With little margin for error in a clutch moment like this, there are a few strategies that pitchers and hitters will use:

Hitters

To protect the plate and not risk getting called out on strikes, batters will inch closer to home plate prior to the pitch to increase the area in which the bat can hit the ball. Many hitters will also choke up in this situation to ensure they get the bat around quickly and make contact. That is what is referred to as “protecting the plate.” Even if the pitch isn’t exactly what they want, with a changed stance and grip, hitters can use the bat to slap the ball and hit it foul to keep the at-bat going.

Pitchers

Since pitchers must throw a strike or get a hitter to swing at a pitch outside of the strike zone, their pitch control must be perfect. Pitchers with good breaking and off-speed pitches will, on a full count, throw a breaking ball that starts in the strike zone in the hopes that the hitter will swing. The goal is to have the ball break out of the strike zone as soon as the hitter brings the bat around.

If the pitcher is a power pitcher, then they will rely on a hard fastball that is at the top of the strike zone, which is hard for a hitter to hit. They may also throw a fastball at the knees on a full count, which may cause hitters to swing when they normally wouldn’t.

But even if the pitcher puts the ball in a perfect location on a full count, it still may not go your way. Just ask Josh Tomlin about this at-bat from the 2016 World Series:

If the pitcher is facing a power hitter who is determined to protect the plate with the game on the line, then facing Mr. October in the 9th inning of Game 2 of the World Series is all about pitch location. Watch Bob Welch take on Reggie Jackson in the 1978 World Series. If there was ever a clutch full count situation in baseball history, this is it:

Conclusion

Full counts put more wear and tear on a pitcher than they do on a hitter, so for that reason alone, a full count situation is more advantageous for the offense. At the same time, having two strikes against them causes hitters to swing at pitches they normally wouldn’t, which gives pitchers an advantage. 

So, who has the advantage in a full count? The real answer is no one. It all comes down to who is more prepared and focused at that moment. Even if your pitcher is world-class, the rest of the defense must also be focused during a full count. To emphasize that point, watch what may be considered the most epic full count situation in MLB history:

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