Editing Strike zone (section)

{{short description|Target zone for a pitched baseball}}
{{Redirect|Ball (baseball)|the object|Baseball (ball)|other uses|Strike zone (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Strike zone en.JPG|thumb|A labelled drawing of the strike zone superimposed onto an image from a game, showing a [[Baseball rules#Batting team|batter]], [[catcher]] and [[Umpire (baseball)|umpire]]. The [[pitcher]] (not pictured) pitches a baseball to the catcher; the batter attempts to hit this baseball; and the umpire decides whether pitches are balls or strikes.]]

In [[baseball]], the '''strike zone '''is the area of space through which a [[Pitch (baseball)|pitch]] must pass in order to be called a strike even if the batter does not swing. The strike zone is defined as the volume of space above [[Baseball field#Home base|home plate]] and between the batter's knees and the midpoint of his [[torso]]. Whether a pitch passes through the zone is decided by an umpire, who is generally positioned behind the catcher.

Strikes are desirable for the pitcher and the [[Baseball rules#Fielding team|fielding team]], as three strikes result in a [[strikeout]] of that batter. A pitch that misses the strike zone is called a [[Baseball rules#Batting|ball]] if the batter does not swing at it. Balls are desirable for the [[Batting (baseball)|batter]] and the [[Baseball rules#Batting team|batting team]], as four balls allow the batter to take a "walk" to first base as a [[base on balls]].

[[File:Umpire catcher strike zone - Tokyo - 2024 April 21.webm|thumb|A [[Batting (baseball)|batter]] gets a strike in Japan, 2024]]