a. 1 of the official rules of Major League Baseball defines an at bat as : `` Number of times batted , except that no time at bat shall be charged when a player : ( 1 ) hits a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly ; ( 2 ) is awarded first base on four called balls ; ( 3 ) is hit by a pitched ball ; or ( 4 ) is awarded first base because of interference or obstruction ... '' An at bat is counted when : `` At bat '' , `` up '' , `` up at bat '' , and `` at the plate '' are all phrases describing a batter who is facing the pitcher .
a. 1 of the official rules of Major League Baseball defines an at bat as : `` Number of times batted , except that no time at bat shall be charged when a player : ( 1 ) hits a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly ; ( 2 ) is awarded first base on four called balls ; ( 3 ) is hit by a pitched ball ; or ( 4 ) is awarded first base because of interference or obstruction ... '' An at bat is counted when :