infiel

Infiel is a term used in the context of baseball and softball to describe a batter who reaches base safely without hitting a fair ball. This can occur through several means, including walks, hit by pitches, and errors by the fielding team. In baseball, an infielder is a player who is positioned in the infield, which includes the shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman, as well as the first baseman and catcher. However, the term "infiel" is not commonly used to refer to these players; instead, it is used to describe the action of reaching base safely.

There are two primary ways a batter can become an infiel: by walking (receiving four pitches outside the strike zone without swinging) or by being hit by a pitch (having a pitch thrown by the pitcher hit them). Additionally, a batter can become an infiel if the fielding team commits an error, allowing the batter to advance to base safely.

Infiel is an important statistic in baseball and softball, as it directly impacts a team's ability to score runs. A high infiel rate can indicate a strong offensive performance, while a low infiel rate can suggest weaknesses in the batting lineup or issues with pitch selection by the pitcher. Managers and coaches use infiel statistics to evaluate player performance and make strategic decisions during games.