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How many balls earn a batter a walk to first base?

Four balls, none swung at.

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  1. Three
  2. Five
  3. Four ✔

Why: A walk, or base on balls, comes after four pitches outside the strike zone that the batter does not swing at. The batter goes to first base. Scorers write it as BB.

Huh, didn't know that: Since 2017, an MLB manager can signal an intentional walk without the pitcher throwing four pitches.

The dad joke
Why did the batter take the bus to first? He was told to walk.
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References

Answer: Four. A walk, or base on balls, comes after four pitches outside the strike zone that the batter does not swing at. The batter goes to first base. Scorers write it as BB.

  1. MLB Glossary: Walk www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/walk
    A walk (or base on balls) occurs when a pitcher throws four pitches out of the strike zone
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  2. MLB Glossary: Intentional Walk www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/intentional-walk
    Beginning in the 2017 season, teams no longer need to throw four balls in order to intentionally walk a batter.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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