In baseball, a sacrifice bunt (also called a sacrifice hit) is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed (and to a certain degree that is the intent of the batter) but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice. Sometimes the batter may safely reach base by simply outrunning the throw to first; this is not scored as a sacrifice bunt but rather a single.
The most opportune situations for sacrifice bunts occur when a runner is on first base, or runners are on both first and second base. The runners try to advance as soon as they see the ball bunted. A properly executed sacrifice bunt in this scenario would put the ball up the first base line with a runner on first, or down the third base line with runners at first and second. This avoids a double play and results in the runner(s) advancing to second (and third) base, "in scoring position".
A successful sacrifice bunt does not count as an at bat and, unlike a sacrifice fly, also does not count as a plate appearance, which determines on base percentage. However, if the official scorer believes that the batter was attempting to bunt for a base hit, and not solely to advance the runners, the batter is not credited with a sacrifice bunt, and is charged an at bat.
In leagues without a designated hitter, sacrifice bunts are most commonly attempted by pitchers, who are typically not productive hitters. Managers consider that if a pitcher's at bat will probably result in an out, they might as well go out in a way most likely to advance the runners. Some leadoff hitters also bunt frequently in similar situations and may be credited with a sacrifice, but as they are often highly skilled bunters and faster runners, they are often trying to get on base as well as advance runners.
A sacrifice bunt attempted while a runner is on third is called a squeeze play.
Although a sacrifice bunt is not the same as a sacrifice fly, both fell under the same statistical category until 1954.
In scoring, a sacrifice bunt may be denoted by SH, S, or occasionally, SAC.
Read more about Sacrifice Bunt: Notable Players With 300 or More Sacrifice Bunts
Famous quotes containing the words sacrifice and/or bunt:
“hair and hide
a sacrifice of blood and flowers
on his altar
if any worshipper
kneel or not.”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)
“Listen, son. You and I are professionals. If the manager says sacrifice, we lay down a bunt and let somebody else hit the homeruns.”
—Frank W. Wead (1895?–1947)