You may notice catchers throwing the ball to third base after a strikeout. Not only is this one of baseball’s many traditions, but throwing the ball to third after a strikeout actually serves a functional purpose.
Catchers typically throw the ball to third base after a strikeout to keep fielders in the game. This is called throwing “around the horn.”
Although it may not seem like it, throwing the ball to third post strikeout is beneficial for a lot of the players involved.
Benefits of Throwing Around the Horn
After a strikeout, it is common for catchers to throw the ball to third base. In any given baseball game there’s a lot of standing around in the dugout. Throwing the ball around shakes things up for the fielders and helps keep them on their toes.
Throwing the ball to third also keeps the infielders’ arms loose for throwing. The routine can even provide relief for the pitcher and give them a quick but much needed break. The catcher uses this routine throwing tactic to keep everyone on the same page in regards to the current number of outs.
Standing around can be very fatiguing, especially in the summer, but the catcher can regain players’ focus and keep players mentally sharp. It’s important every player is prepared for what is going to happen next, and it can be easy to lose train of thought when the game seems to be at a standstill.
The catcher almost only throws the ball to third base when there aren’t any runners on base.
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant says he thinks catchers throw the ball to third after a strikeout to allow the pitcher time to walk around the mount and refocus.
What is Around the Horn?
“Around the Horn” is a term often used in baseball to describe the routine of throws after a strikeout.
According to MLB.com, the true definition of “Around the Horn” is a ground-ball double or triple play that starts with the third baseman and involves a throw to second and then a throw directly to first.
The phrase can also be used to describe when the infielders throw the ball to one another following an out without men/runners on base. After a strikeout with nobody on base, the catcher usually starts the throwing routine, or, “Around the Horn” exercise by throwing the ball to the third baseman.
Some teams use different patterns, but it usually goes as follows: The pitcher throws the ball to the third baseman. He then throws it to the shortstop who throws it to second base. From second base the ball is thrown back to third who returns it to the pitcher. 5-4-3 and 6-4-3 double plays are sometimes included in “Around the Horn” because the progression of throws is very similar.
Sometimes, an unaware player will let a toss in around the horn loose and a ball will escape into the outfield. Pretty embarrassing, but I feel like we’ve seen it at least once or twice.
“Around the Horn” is an old name that originated from ships sailing around Cape Horn (the southern tip of South America) from San Francisco and back around to New York in the early 1900s. The shape of the throwing routine from player to player resembles the shape of the route boats had to take around the horn of South America.
The players throw around the horn after a strikeout for multiple reasons. One of the more important reasons, though, is to keep the players loose. If you think about it, it takes a few minutes for a pitcher to strike someone out.
As minutes go by, infielders are waiting and preparing to make a play. In some games, several innings can go by without a player making a single throw.
Around the horn also serves as a time killer in between each batter. As the batter is preparing and carrying out their batting ritual, the infielders can toss around the ball until the player is good and ready.
Let us not gloss over the fact that some players throw around the horn for showmanship. It’s nice to gloat after a strikeout and what better way than whipping the ball around in celebration. Imagine what throwing around the horn was like in the 19th century before players started using gloves.
Why is the First Baseman not included in Around the Horn?
Those with a keen eye will realize the first baseman is often excluded in the “Around the Horn” ritual.
Some have chalked it up to purely “baseball being baseball,” alluding to all of the random superstitions loaded into the sport. Others point out it could have something to do with the first baseman’s arm being the weakest link. It’s likely out of preservation, though. “Around the Horn” is meant to keep the players warmed up and ready in case a player goes to steal a base. No one is going to be running toward first so it’s unnecessary to include the first baseman.
After searching Google a bit, a few old timers swear the first baseman was included in around the horn until the early 80s. Few claim to see teams do it here and there but again, its mostly just done because of baseball ritual. Catchers such as Ivan Rodriguez have been known to throw the ball to the first baseman who then throws the ball around the horn in reverse.
Other times it is not about the ritual or the player’s positions but the handedness of the batter. For a right-handed batter, it would be better for the catcher to throw to first because the line to the first baseman is not blocked. For a left-handed batter, a catcher may think to throw to third.
First Baseman After the Third Out
You may notice after each inning the first baseman is thrown a ball from (seemingly) the dugout. No, it’s not like those guys that don’t wash their socks for three weeks after a win or wear their hats inside out during the NCLS.
This is actually the “warm up” ball for the next inning. The first baseman keeps the ball in his glove and uses it for the infield warm-up when the teams switch and go back out to play. He usually takes the time in between innings to throw ground balls to the other infielders.
This practice aims to avoid last minute rummaging for baseballs by the players, batboy, coach, backup player, or the like. Since the ball is given to the first baseman with a glove on, the ball will stay in the glove, so there isn’t much room for error.
Although the pitcher has access to the ball just caught during the third out, the pitcher can’t use this ball to warm up. The third out is the game ball, and shouldn’t be used during warm-ups. The only balls you should be using during warm-ups are your own team’s balls.
Again, this practice does have a practical use, but part of the reason why it is still practiced today is “baseball being baseball” and having endless traditions.
What about the Dropped Third strike?
This is all fine and dandy, but do catchers throw to third base during a dropped third strikeout? Well first, we have to determine what a dropped third is, and if a dropped third is considered a strikeout.
A “dropped third” in baseball is an uncaught third strike that the catcher fails to catch completely. This happens when the first base is open and there are two outs. In this situation, the batter immediately becomes a runner.
As you may know, this doesn’t happen very often in baseball, but the batter still may try and reach first base but has to be either tagged or forced out. Pitches that hit the ground before the catcher can try and catch them are also labeled dropped third strikes.
In a situation where a dropped third strike occurs and the bases are loaded, the catcher who did not grasp the catch fully can force out the batter after picking up the ball and stepping on home plate. He may also throw to another base to force another runner out.
No matter what ends up happening in the play, the pitcher is gifted a strikeout and the batter is punished with one. The dropped third rule makes it possible for pitchers to acquire more than three strikeout in a single inning. A few four-strikeout innings exist in MLB, but there are no records of a five-strikeout inning.
The dropped third strikeout rule changed during the ninth inning of Game 2 of the 2005 ALCS. The MLB added a comment to the rule which states: A batter who does not realize his situation on a third strike not caught, and who is not in the process of running to first base, shall be declared out once he leaves the dirt circle surrounding home plate.
So, what happens if a runner crosses the plate before the batter is thrown out at first or tagged out? The run does not count because the dropped third run can not score.
