Assist (A)

Definition

An assist is awarded to a fielder who touches the ball before a putout is recorded by another fielder. Typically, assists are awarded to fielders when they throw the ball to another player -- but a fielder receives an assist as long as he touches the ball, even if the contact was unintentional. For example, on a line drive that strikes the pitcher before caroming to the shortstop, both the pitcher and shortstop are awarded an assist if the out is made on a throw to first base.

There is an assist awarded on most ground-ball outs -- because most ground-ball outs require a defender to throw the ball to another defender. However, there can also be assists on fly balls -- when a runner tries to advance, but the outfielder (or in rare cases, the infielder) throws him out or doubles him off.

There is a maximum of one assist per player per out recorded. If a player touches the ball twice in a rundown, where the runner is eventually tagged out, that player is only credited with one assist for that out. Pitchers are not awarded assists for strikeouts.

In A Call

"gets the assist"