You’re scanning a box score, and there it is: a column labelled “PO” sitting next to A and E. If you’ve ever wondered what is a PO in baseball, you’re asking one of the most important questions about how baseball scoring works.
The short answer: PO stands for putout, a defensive stat credited to the fielder who records the out. But there’s more to it. A putout can happen four or five different ways, and the letters “PO” carry a second meaning in youth and recruiting circles that has nothing to do with fielding stats at all.
This guide breaks down every angle. You’ll learn how putouts get recorded, how they differ from assists, how to read scorekeeping shorthand like 5-3 and 9-3, and why first basemen and catchers pile up the highest totals. Let’s get into it.
What a PO (Putout) Means in Baseball
In a fielding stat line, PO stands for putout. You’ll see it in any standard fielding statistics table on Baseball Reference or in a box score, sitting alongside A (assists) and E (errors).
A putout is credited to the defensive player who directly records an out. The official scorer assigns the PO to whoever physically completes the play, catching the ball, applying the tag, or standing on the base when a force out happens. The key rule is simple: the putout goes to the fielder who last touched the ball to retire the runner or batter.
Here’s a stat that ties it all together. In a standard nine-inning game, the winning team records exactly 27 putouts, one for each of the 27 outs needed to end the opponent’s batting. That’s not a coincidence. Every out has a putout attached to it, which is why the numbers always balance in a properly kept box score.
Putouts form the backbone of defensive statistics, and they’re a fundamental measure of a player’s fielding contribution, especially for infielders and catchers.
Why Putouts Are One of Baseball’s Most Important Defensive Statistics
A putout may seem like a simple statistic, but it reflects the successful completion of every defensive out. Whether it’s a routine ground ball to first base or a spectacular diving catch in the outfield, every putout represents a play that prevented the opposing team from extending an inning.
Because every out recorded in a game results in a putout, the statistic provides a reliable way to measure defensive involvement. While some positions naturally record more putouts than others, the stat remains one of the foundations of baseball scorekeeping and defensive analysis.
Every Way a Putout Can Be Recorded
A putout isn’t a single type of play. A fielder can earn a PO several different ways, and knowing them helps you read the game far more clearly.
Here are the common ways a player gets a putout:
- Catching a batted ball on the fly, any flyout, lineout, or popout retires the batter and credits the catcher of the ball.
- Tagging a runner, applying the tag to a runner who is off the base.
- Force out at a base, touching the base with the ball before the runner arrives on a force play.
- Catching a third strike, every strikeout gives the catcher a putout.
- Appeal plays, receiving the ball and tagging the base on an appeal.
- Interference calls, the fielder nearest a runner called out for interference gets credited.
Each method retires a runner or batter, and each adds one to the fielder’s PO column. The variety is why some positions rack up putouts far faster than others.
Putouts by Position: First Basemen, Catchers, Infielders, and Outfielders
- First basemen accumulate the most putouts of nearly any position. They catch throws on force plays at first base after ground balls, so plays like a 6-3 groundout constantly feed their total.
- Catchers earn a huge number of putouts by catching third strikes on every strikeout. If you’re learning the game, understanding what a strike in baseball is makes it easier to see why catchers consistently rank among the leaders in putouts.
- Infielders, second basemen, shortstops, and third basemen record putouts on force outs, tag plays, and caught popups across the diamond.
- Outfielders get most of their putouts one way: catching fly balls hit into the gaps and down the lines.
Examples of Putouts During a Baseball Game
If you’re new to baseball, it’s easier to understand putouts by looking at real game situations.
- A first baseman catches a throw from the shortstop before the batter reaches first base.
- A centre fielder catches a fly ball for an out.
- A catcher catches the third strike to complete a strikeout.
- A third baseman tags a runner attempting to steal third base.
- A second baseman steps on second base during a force play.
Although each play looks different, they all have one thing in common: the player completing the out receives the putout.
PO vs. Assist: What’s the Difference?
This is where a lot of new fans get tripped up. The putout and the assist are two separate credits, and understanding the split makes scorekeeping click.
The putout goes to the fielder who directly records the out, catching the ball, tagging the runner, or stepping on the base. The assist goes to any fielder who touched the ball before the putout was made.
Picture a routine ground ball to the shortstop. The shortstop fields it and throws to first. Here’s how the credit splits:
- Shortstop (6) fields and throws → gets the assist
- The first baseman (3) catches the throw and steps on the bag → gets the putout
One play, two different stats. This split explains why shortstops dominate assist leaderboards while first basemen dominate putouts. Shortstops field the most ground balls and make the most throws of any position, so they hand out assists constantly. First basemen are on the receiving end of those throws, so the putouts pile up on their side of the ledger.
Putout vs. Assist at a Glance
| Statistic | Meaning | Awarded to |
| Putout (PO) | Records the final out on a play | Player completing the out |
| Assist (A) | Helps complete the out | Player making the throw or previous touch |
| Error (E) | Defensive mistake allowing a runner to reach safely | Player committing the mistake |
Understanding the difference between these statistics makes reading MLB box scores much easier and helps fans appreciate every player’s defensive contribution.
PO vs. Assist: What’s the Difference?
This is where a lot of new fans get tripped up. The putout and the assist are two separate credits, and understanding the split makes scorekeeping click.
The putout goes to the fielder who directly records the out, catching the ball, tagging the runner, or stepping on the base. The assist goes to any fielder who touched the ball before the putout was made.
Picture a routine ground ball to the shortstop. The shortstop fields it and throws to first. Here’s how the credit splits:
- Shortstop (6) fields and throws → gets the assist
- The first baseman (3) catches the throw and steps on the bag → gets the putout
One play, two different stats. This split explains why shortstops dominate assist leaderboards while first basemen dominate putouts. Shortstops field the most ground balls and make the most throws of any position, so they hand out assists constantly. First basemen are on the receiving end of those throws, so the putouts pile up on their side of the ledger.
How to Read PO in Scorekeeping and Box Scores
Baseball scorekeeping assigns every defensive position a number, 1 through 9. Once you know the numbers, the shorthand reads like a sentence.
Here’s the position numbering:
| Number | Position |
| 1 | Pitcher |
| 2 | Catcher |
| 3 | First base |
| 4 | Second base |
| 5 | Third base |
| 6 | Shortstop |
| 7 | Left field |
| 8 | Centrefield |
| 9 | Right field |
When you see a putout written as a sequence of numbers, the last number always tells you who recorded the final out. Scorekeepers often note the out type but skip the player on routine plays, like a strikeout, where the catcher automatically gets the PO. On an uncaught third strike, though, the box score may credit the first baseman, noted as something like “struck out, catcher to first”.
Understanding Putout Notation: 5-3, 9-3, and More
Here’s how the common sequences break down:
- 5-3 putout: Third baseman (5) fields the ball and throws to first (3). The third baseman gets the assist; the first baseman gets the PO. A ground ball down the third-base line, fielded and thrown across, is one of the most common plays in the game.
- 6-3 putout: Shortstop (6) fields and throws to first (3) for the out.
- 4-6-3 double play: Second base (4) to shortstop (6) to first base (3).
- 3-1 putout: The first baseman fields the ball but gets pulled off the bag, so the pitcher (1) covers first and takes the throw.
- 1-3 putouts: The pitcher fields a comebacker and throws to first.
- 9-3 putout: The right fielder (9) fields a ball and throws the batter out at first. This one is rare, the hitter has to be slow out of the box, the ball has to be hit hard, and the outfielder has to be playing shallow. Coaches usually teach outfielders not to throw to first, because it rarely works and risks letting runners advance on a bad throw. When it happens, it’s a highlight.
- F8: A flyout to the centre: the centre fielder (8) gets the PO.
- K: A strikeout, where the catcher automatically records the putout.
Why Putouts Matter: Fielding Percentage and Defensive Metrics
Putouts aren’t just trivia for the scorebook. They feed directly into how we measure defence.
The most direct use is fielding percentage. The formula combines a player’s successful plays against their mistakes:
Fielding Percentage = (Putouts + Assists) ÷ (Putouts + Assists + Errors)
A high putout total, paired with few errors, signals a fielder who reliably converts the outs that come their way. That matters when you’re comparing players at the same position or tracking a defender’s season.
Putouts also anchor deeper defensive metrics. Analysts fold them into range factor and other advanced measures that estimate how much ground a fielder covers and how many outs they help produce. Because every out in a game carries a putout, the stat gives you a raw count of defensive activity, a starting point for judging who’s doing the work behind the pitcher. For infielders and catchers especially, the PO column is a core part of any fair evaluation.
Why Every Baseball Fan Should Understand Putouts
Learning what a putout means helps you understand much more than just a number in the box score.
Once you recognise how putouts are recorded, you’ll be able to:
- Read defensive statistics with confidence.
- Understand official scorekeeping.
- Follow advanced baseball analytics more easily.
- Appreciate great defensive plays that don’t appear on offensive highlight reels.
- Compare players at the same defensive position more accurately.
For new fans, understanding putouts is one of the easiest ways to gain a deeper appreciation of baseball strategy.
Which Position Records the Most Putouts?
Not every defensive position has the same opportunity to earn putouts.
Here’s a general comparison:
| Position | Typical Putouts | Why |
| First Baseman | Very High | Receives throws on force plays |
| Catcher | Very High | Records put out on strikeouts |
| Second Baseman | Moderate | Force plays and tags |
| Shortstop | Moderate | Double plays and tag-outs |
| Third Baseman | Moderate | Bunts and hard-hit ground balls |
| Outfielders | Lower | Fly balls and line drives |
| Pitcher | Lowest | Comebackers and covering first base |
This is why first basemen often finish a season with significantly more putouts than any other position.
MLB Putout Leaders: Career and Single-Season Records
When you look at all-time and single-season putout leaders, a clear pattern shows up: first basemen and catchers sit at the top, year after year.
The reason traces straight back to how putouts are earned. First basemen handle nearly every force out at first, and with the majority of outs in a game coming on grounders and throws to first, their totals climb fast. It’s normal for a first baseman to lead all MLB players in putouts almost every single season.
Catchers pile up putouts through strikeouts. Every time a pitcher fans a batter and the catcher gloves the third strike, that’s a PO. Add in popups near the plate, tag plays at home, and catcher interference calls, and catchers routinely top the fielding-wide putout charts over a full season.
So when you scan the leaderboards, don’t expect shortstops or outfielders up there. The positional trends are baked into the game’s structure; the busiest hands at first base and behind the plate collect the most putouts.
The Other PO: “Pitcher Only” in Recruiting and Youth Baseball
Here’s where context flips the meaning entirely. Outside the box score, PO stands for “Pitcher Only”.
A Pitcher Only is a player on the roster exclusively to pitch. They don’t play another defensive position, and they don’t bat in the lineup. You’ll hear this term most at the high school and travel ball levels. When a coach says “he’s a PO”, it means that player is being developed as a pitcher and nothing else, not as a two-way player who also hits or fields.
At the college level, most pitchers are POs. And in MLB, all pitchers became effectively POs once the universal DH was adopted in 2022, since pitchers no longer bat.
So if you see “PO” next to a name on a travel ball roster, a scouting report, or a tournament seeding sheet, it almost always means “pitcher only”, not “putout”. Context is everything. In a stats table, it’s a fielding number: on a recruiting profile, it’s a role.
PO in Softball and Sports Betting
The PO abbreviation travels beyond baseball, and the meaning mostly holds steady.
In softball, PO means exactly what it means in baseball, a putout. The fielder who catches a fly ball, records a force out, applies a tag, or catches a third strike gets the PO. The rules and scoring are identical. Catchers dominate softball putout totals for the same reason they do in baseball: strikeouts are common, and every caught third strike is a catcher putout. Fastpitch softball actually has a high strikeout rate, which can push catcher PO totals even higher relative to other positions.
In sports betting and daily fantasy, the meaning shifts slightly toward projections. If you spot PO on PrizePicks or a similar platform, it typically refers to putouts as a defensive stat projection tied to a pitcher, reflecting outs recorded by the defence behind them, or sometimes strikeout-adjacent fielding numbers. The core definition still comes back to “putout”, just packaged as a prop you can bet on.
Frequently Asked Questions About PO in Baseball
What does PO stand for in baseball statistics?
PO stands for putout, a defensive statistic credited to the fielder who directly records an out. This includes catching fly balls, tagging runners, stepping on a base for force-outs, or catching a third strike. You’ll see it listed in box scores alongside assists (A) and errors (E).
How many putouts does a team record in a nine-inning game?
A team records exactly 27 putouts in a standard nine-inning game, matching the 27 outs needed to retire the opposing team. Every out has a putout attached to it, which is why box scores always balance correctly.
What’s the difference between a putout and an assist in baseball?
The putout goes to the fielder who directly completes the out, while an assist goes to any fielder who touched the ball before the out was recorded. On a 6-3 groundout, the shortstop gets the assist, and the first baseman gets the putout.
Why do first basemen and catchers lead in putouts?
First basemen accumulate the most putouts through force outs on ground balls at first base. Catchers earn high totals by recording a putout on every strikeout, plus tagging runners at home and catching popups near the plate.
What does PO mean when used for a pitcher in recruiting?
In youth, high school, and college recruitment contexts, PO means ‘Pitcher Only’, a player rostered exclusively as a pitcher who doesn’t play other positions or bat in the lineup. Context determines whether PO refers to putouts or pitcher-only status.
How does a catcher earn a putout on a strikeout?
Every time a pitcher strikes out a batter and the catcher catches the third strike, the catcher is credited with a putout. This is the most common way catchers accumulate high PO totals throughout a season.
