The occurrence of a player reaching first base without hitting the ball, due to a pitcher throwing four balls outside the strike zone, is a common element of baseball. A single contest can witness a significant number of such instances. For example, in a game with erratic pitching, multiple players may receive free passes to first base.
Accumulating a high number of these free passes can heavily influence the outcome of a game. Increased traffic on the basepaths often leads to more scoring opportunities. Historically, teams that display plate discipline and force opposing pitchers to throw erratically have frequently enjoyed considerable success. This metric is often viewed as an indicator of a team’s patience and ability to exploit pitching weaknesses.
