Putout

In baseball statistics, a putout (PO) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods:

• Tagging a runner with the ball when the runner is not touching a base (a tagout)
• Catching a batted ball on the fly (a flyout)
• Retrieving a batted ball hit along the ground which a defensive player subsequently throws to another defensive player who then catches it- the latter simultaneously occupying a base, or by subsequently touching a base while in possession of the ball- thus recording an out of a batter or runner, before the batter, or non-batting runner, can touch the base to which he is compelled to advance (a force out- referred to as a groundout if the player who has been put out is the batter-runner attempting to reach first base- or, if done after a flyout, a doubling off).
• Catching a thrown ball and tagging a base to record an out on an appeal play
• Catching a third strike (a strikeout)
• Being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference

In a regulation nine-inning game, the winning team will always have a total of 27 putouts, as one putout is awarded for every defensive out made; this is one aspect of proving a box score.

While the abbreviation for putout is "PO",¹ baseball scorekeeping typically records the specific manner in which an out was achieved, without explicitly noting which player is awarded the putout for common plays. For example, a strikeout is recorded without noting the putout by the catcher, with additional detail only provided as needed. For example, "Fryman struck out (catcher to first)"² in a play-by-play summary in reference to an out recorded following an uncaught third strike, which indicates the putout was credited to the first baseman rather than the catcher.

Content in this section has been updated through completion of the 2022 major-league season.

1. Jake Beckley: 23,767 (1888–1907)
2. Cap Anson: 22,572 (1871–1897)
3. Ed Konetchy: 21,378 (1907–1921)
4. Eddie Murray: 21,265 (1977–1997)
5. Charlie Grimm: 20,722 (1916–1936)
6. Stuffy McInnis: 20,120 (1909–1927)
7. Mickey Vernon: 19,819 (1939–1960)
8. Jake Daubert: 19,634 (1910–1924)
9. Lou Gehrig: 19,525 (1923–1939)
10. Joe Kuhel: 19,386 (1930–1947)

Note: each of the above players was primarily a first baseman.
Note: entering the 2023 season, Joey Votto has the most putouts among active MLB players, with 14,440.
Source:³

The most putouts recorded by any player in a single major-league season is 1,846 by Jiggs Donahue, a first baseman with the 1907 Chicago White Sox.⁴