# MLB: HBP Yields a Run **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [June 26, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hbp-yields-a-run/986145 "2023-06-26T23:42:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hbp-yields-a-run/986145/1 "2023-06-26T23:42:40Z")
When a hit by the pitch (HBP) yields a run, is that an earned run or an unearned run? Seems to me the pitcher should be held accountable. (a) Let’s assume the bases are loaded, and all men on base, plus the HBP, are the responsibility of one pitcher. (b) Then, assume the man on 3rd who is forced home by the HBP is due to the previous pitcher…it still goes against the last pitcher, if this scenario is an earned run, correct? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hbp-yields-a-run/986145/2 "2023-06-26T23:56:39Z")
Assuming that there wasn’t an error or a passed ball that contributed to the three men being on base, my understanding is that it’d be an earned run. If the runner scores due to the actions of the pitcher, it’s an earned run, putting a HBP in the same category as a wild pitch or a balk. > [@](#): > > An unearned run is any run that scored because of an error or a passed ball. Oftentimes, it is the judgment of the official scorer as to whether a specific run would’ve scored without the defensive mishap. > > The purpose of the unearned run is to distinguish which runs a pitcher is at fault for allowing. [Source: MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/unearned-run) And, this cite (bolding mine): > [@](#): > > The Official Scorer shall charge an earned run against a pitcher every time a runner reaches home base by the aid of safe hits, sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly, stolen bases, putouts, fielder’s choices, bases on balls, **hit batters** , balks or wild pitches (including a wild pitch on third strike that permits a batter to reach first base) before fielding chances have been offered to put out the offensive team. [Source: Baseball Rules Academy](https://baseballrulesacademy.com/official-rule/mlb/9-16-earned-runs-runs-allowed/) And, yes, if the guy who scores had initially reached base while batting against the previous pitcher, the earned run would be charged to the previous pitcher (just as it would be for any other scoring play). ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hbp-yields-a-run/986145/3 "2023-06-27T20:41:00Z")
To add to what @kenobi_65 said, there’s a quirk that is a little counter-intuitive - if the pitcher makes an error allowing a run to score, that’s still an unearned run even though it was the pitcher’s error. Contrast that to a wild pitch, which is another action by the pitcher - that does not result in an unearned run even though it’s an “error” by the pitcher. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hbp-yields-a-run/986145/4 "2023-06-28T01:08:13Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > it was the pitcher’s error. True, but it wasn’t a _pitching error_, it was a fielding error, which is an entirely different kind of error, altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hbp-yields-a-run/986145/5 "2023-06-28T13:11:11Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > True, but it wasn’t a _pitching error_, it was a fielding error, which is an entirely different kind of error, altogether. It’s an entirely different kind of error.