What Does PO Mean in Baseball? Explained

By Sarah Miller · March 25, 2051

In baseball, ‘PO’ stands for ‘putout,’ a defensive statistic awarded to a player who records an out. This can include tagging a base, catching a fly ball, or tagging a runner. The player who physically completes the act of retiring a batter or baserunner is credited with the putout.

Understanding the Meaning of PO in Baseball

A ‘putout’ (PO) is one of the fundamental defensive statistics in baseball. It is recorded when a fielder directly causes an out. Unlike an assist, which is given to a player who throws the ball to someone else who makes the out, the putout goes to the player who actually secures the out.

Putouts are tracked for every position and help evaluate a player’s defensive contribution. For example, catchers often lead in putouts due to their role in receiving pitches and tagging runners at home plate.

Common Ways a Putout is Recorded

Catching a fly ball or line drive before it hits the ground
Tagging a base on a force play (e.g., first baseman stepping on first base)
Tagging a runner with the ball while they are off base
Receiving a throw at first base on a groundout
Catching a third strike (if the batter doesn’t reach first safely)

Positions That Typically Record the Most Putouts

Certain positions naturally accumulate more putouts due to the nature of their responsibilities. First basemen, catchers, and outfielders usually lead in this stat.

Why Position Matters in Putout Accumulation

First basemen receive throws on nearly every ground ball to the right side of the infield, giving them frequent opportunities for putouts. Catchers record putouts on strikeouts, pickoffs, and plays at the plate. Outfielders get putouts on fly balls.

Player	Position	Team (2024)	Putouts (2024 Season)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	1B	Toronto Blue Jays	1,387
J.T. Realmuto	C	Philadelphia Phillies	982
Mookie Betts	RF	Los Angeles Dodgers	312
Matt Chapman	3B	Toronto Blue Jays	116
Corey Seager	SS	Texas Rangers	214

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that first basemen like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lead in putouts due to high volume of ground-ball outs. Catchers like J.T. Realmuto also rank highly because of strikeouts and plate appearances. Outfielders and middle infielders have fewer chances, reflected in lower totals.

Differences Between Putouts, Assists, and Errors

It’s important to distinguish between key defensive stats:

Putout (PO): Awarded when a player directly records an out.
Assist (A): Given to a player who throws the ball to another who makes the out.
Error (E): Charged when a fielder mishandles the ball, allowing a batter or runner to advance.

For example, on a ground ball to shortstop who throws to first baseman: the shortstop gets an assist, and the first baseman gets the putout.

How PO Impacts Player Evaluation

While putouts alone don’t measure overall defensive skill, they provide context when combined with other metrics like fielding percentage and defensive runs saved. High putout totals can indicate durability and consistent playing time.

However, raw PO numbers can be misleading. A first baseman will always have more putouts than a center fielder, not necessarily because they’re better, but due to position-specific opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions About PO in Baseball

What does PO mean in baseball box scores?

PO stands for ‘putout’ in a baseball box score. It indicates how many outs a player was directly responsible for during the game.

Who gets the putout on a strikeout?

The catcher is credited with the putout on a strikeout, unless the batter reaches first base safely on a dropped third strike.

Can a pitcher get a putout?

Yes, pitchers can get putouts. They often do so by covering first base on ground balls, fielding bunts, or catching line drives.

Is a putout the same as an out?

Each putout corresponds to one out, but ‘putout’ refers to the defensive credit assigned to a specific player, while ‘out’ is the game event itself.

Do outfielders get a lot of putouts?

Outfielders typically get fewer putouts than infielders, but they can accumulate significant totals over a season from catching fly balls, especially center fielders who cover more ground.