In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by PO or fly out when appropriate) is given to a defensive player who records an out by tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base, catching a batted or thrown ball and tagging a base to put out a batter or runner (a force out), catching a thrown ball and tagging a base to record an out on an appeal play, catching a third strike (a strikeout), catching a batted ball on the fly (a fly out), or being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference. The pitcher is the player who pitches the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, playing the most difficult and specialized position, and as such is regarded as being at the right end of the defensive spectrum. Pitchers play far less than players at other positions, generally appearing in only two or three games per week; only one pitcher in major league history has appeared in 100 games in a single season. There are many different types of pitchers, generally divided between starting pitchers and relief pitchers, which include the middle reliever, lefty specialist, setup man, and closer. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1.
Pitchers typically record putouts by catching line drives or pop-ups, or by covering first base on ground balls to the first baseman. On pop-ups, however, pitchers will often instead act as a defensive supervisor, evaluating the ball's arc and selecting which infielder should make the catch. Pitchers can also record a putout while covering home plate by tagging a runner attempting to score a run if the catcher is retrieving a wild pitch, passed ball, or errant throw. Because of the relative rarity of such plays, as well as their reduced playing time, pitchers record far fewer putouts than players at any other position; players at every other position have recorded between five and forty-three times as many putouts as the top pitcher. Only four pitchers in history - none since 1886 - have recorded 50 putouts in a season, a total which a first baseman might reach in a week.
Career putout totals for pitchers have generally risen with the increase in long careers, and the lengthening of the major league season in the early 1960s. The top 11 career leaders are all starting pitchers who have been active since 1962. Right-handed pitchers generally record more putouts due to their facing first base after the follow-through of their pitching motion; the top 24 leaders are all right-handed. Greg Maddux is the all-time leader in career putouts by a pitcher with 546;[1] [2] [3] he is the only pitcher to record more than 400 career putouts.
| Rank | Rank amongst leaders in career putouts. A blank field indicates a tie. | |
| Player (2024 POs) | Number of recorded putouts during the 2024 Major League Baseball season | |
| Throws | Denotes right-handed (R) or left-handed (L) pitcher | |
| MLB | Total career putouts as a pitcher in Major League Baseball | |
| Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame | ||
| Bold | Denotes active player[4] |
| Rank | Player (2024 POs) | Throws | Putouts as a pitcher | Other leagues, notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | American League | National League | ||||
| 1 | Greg Maddux | R | 546 | 0 | 546 | Held the modern National League single-season record, 1990-1999 (tie) |
| 2 | Kevin Brown | R | 388 | 187 | 201 | Holds the modern National League single-season record of 41 (set in 1999) |
| 3 | Jack Morris | R | 387 | 387 | 0 | Held major league record, 1994-2000 |
| 4 | Phil Niekro | R | 386 | 46 | 340 | Held major league record, 1985-1994; held National League record, 1982-1998 |
| 5 | Ferguson Jenkins | R | 363 | 176 | 187 | Held major league record, 1981-1985 |
| 6 | Gaylord Perry | R | 349 | 141 | 208 | |
| 7 | Zack Greinke (0) | R | 340 | 151 | 189 | |
| 8 | Don Sutton | R | 334 | 64 | 270 | |
| 9 | Orel Hershiser | R | 332 | 56 | 276 | |
| 10 | Rick Reuschel | R | 328 | 6 | 322 | |
| Tom Seaver | R | 328 | 48 | 280 | ||
| 12 | Tony Mullane | R | 326 | 0 | 106 | Includes 220 in American Association (league record); held major league record, 1894-1981; held the single-season record, 1882-1886 |
| 13 | Pud Galvin | R | 325 | 0 | 276 | Includes 26 in American Association, 22 in Players' League, 1 in National Association; held major league record, 1889-1894; held National League record, 1891-1901 |
| 14 | Roger Clemens | R | 320 | 296 | 24 | |
| John Smoltz * | R | 320 | 4 | 316 | ||
| 16 | Dennis Martínez | R | 319 | 196 | 123 | |
| 17 | Chick Fraser | R | 317 | 35 | 282 | Held the modern single-season record, 1901-1902 |
| 18 | Robin Roberts | R | 316 | 64 | 252 | |
| 19 | Kid Nichols | R | 313 | 0 | 313 | Held National League record, 1901-1982 |
| 20 | Jim Palmer | R | 292 | 292 | 0 | Held American League record, 1982-1990 |
| 21 | Bob Gibson | R | 291 | 0 | 291 | |
| Juan Marichal | R | 291 | 4 | 287 | ||
| 23 | Bert Blyleven | R | 287 | 252 | 35 | |
| 24 | Christy Mathewson | R | 281 | 0 | 281 | |
| 25 | Jamie Moyer | L | 279 | 203 | 76 | |
| 26 | Mike Moore | R | 278 | 278 | 0 | |
| 27 | Walter Johnson | R | 276 | 276 | 0 | Held American League record, 1922-1982 |
| 28 | Dave Stieb | R | 272 | 272 | 0 | |
| 29 | Vic Willis | R | 271 | 0 | 271 | Held the modern National League single-season record, 1902-1999 |
| 30 | Doug Drabek | R | 266 | 27 | 239 | |
| 31 | Doyle Alexander | R | 264 | 220 | 44 | |
| 32 | Bob Lemon | R | 263 | 263 | 0 | |
| Jim McCormick | R | 263 | 0 | 250 | Includes 13 in Union Association; held major league record, 1885-1889 | |
| 34 | Tom Glavine * | L | 262 | 0 | 262 | |
| Jim Kaat | L | 262 | 214 | 48 | Held record for left-handed pitchers, 1980-2008 | |
| 36 | Tim Keefe | R | 260 | 0 | 196 | Includes 49 in American Association, 15 in Players' League |
| 37 | Tim Hudson | R | 258 | 114 | 144 | |
| Kenny Rogers | L | 258 | 254 | 4 | ||
| 39 | Larry Jackson | R | 257 | 0 | 257 | |
| 40 | Dan Petry | R | 255 | 251 | 4 | |
| 41 | Joe Niekro | R | 253 | 56 | 197 | |
| 42 | Mike Boddicker | R | 245 | 245 | 0 | Holds the modern single-season record of 49 (set in 1984) |
| Ted Breitenstein | L | 245 | 0 | 244 | Includes 1 in American Association; holds the single-season record for left-handed pitchers (46 in 1895) | |
| Lew Burdette | R | 245 | 8 | 237 | ||
| Milt Pappas | R | 245 | 133 | 112 | ||
| 46 | Adonis Terry | R | 244 | 0 | 106 | Includes 138 in American Association |
| 47 | Bob Welch | R | 243 | 102 | 141 | |
| 48 | Mel Stottlemyre | R | 242 | 242 | 0 | |
| 49 | Freddie Fitzsimmons | R | 237 | 0 | 237 | |
| Mark Gubicza | R | 237 | 237 | 0 | ||
| Tommy John | L | 237 | 191 | 46 | ||
| Steve Rogers | R | 237 | 0 | 237 | ||
| 53 | Murry Dickson | R | 236 | 10 | 226 | |
| Bobby Mathews | R | 236 | 0 | 60 | Includes 139 in National Association, 37 in American Association; held major league record, 1883-1886 | |
| Adam Wainwright | R | 236 | 0 | 236 | ||
| Doc White | L | 236 | 219 | 17 | ||
| 57 | Charlie Hough | R | 235 | 193 | 42 | |
| 58 | Bob Forsch | R | 234 | 0 | 234 | |
| 59 | Ed Walsh | R | 233 | 232 | 1 | |
| 60 | Mike Mussina | R | 231 | 231 | 0 | |
| 61 | Tom Candiotti | R | 230 | 154 | 76 | |
| Charles Radbourn | R | 230 | 0 | 214 | Includes 16 in Players' League | |
| 63 | George Mullin | R | 229 | 219 | 0 | Includes 10 in Federal League; held the modern single-season record, 1903-1904 (tie) |
| Eddie Plank | L | 229 | 216 | 0 | Includes 13 in Federal League | |
| Cy Young | R | 229 | 72 | 157 | ||
| 66 | Bob Friend | R | 228 | 3 | 225 | |
| Roy Halladay | R | 228 | 188 | 40 | ||
| 68 | Tim Wakefield | R | 227 | 213 | 14 | |
| 69 | Frank Tanana | L | 226 | 215 | 11 | |
| 70 | Burleigh Grimes | R | 225 | 1 | 224 | |
| Catfish Hunter | R | 225 | 225 | 0 | ||
| 72 | Dwight Gooden | R | 224 | 33 | 191 | |
| 73 | Scott Erickson | R | 223 | 219 | 4 | |
| Mike Torrez | R | 223 | 130 | 93 | ||
| 75 | John Lackey | R | 222 | 156 | 66 | |
| Warren Spahn | L | 222 | 0 | 222 | ||
| 77 | Bronson Arroyo | R | 221 | 47 | 174 | |
| John Clarkson | R | 221 | 0 | 221 | ||
| Derek Lowe | R | 221 | 108 | 113 | ||
| Luis Tiant | R | 221 | 218 | 3 | ||
| 81 | David Cone | R | 220 | 119 | 101 | |
| Nolan Ryan | R | 220 | 125 | 95 | ||
| 83 | Ted Lyons | R | 219 | 219 | 0 | |
| 84 | Tommy Bond | R | 218 | 0 | 149 | Includes 59 in National Association, 8 in Union Association, 2 in American Association |
| 85 | Mickey Welch | R | 217 | 0 | 217 | |
| 86 | George Bradley | R | 216 | 0 | 120 | Includes 52 in National Association, 33 in Union Association, 11 in American Association; held the single-season record, 1876-1882 |
| Guy Hecker | R | 216 | 0 | 8 | Includes 208 in American Association | |
| 88 | Mike Morgan | R | 215 | 77 | 138 | |
| 89 | Mike Leake | R | 213 | 35 | 178 | |
| Brad Radke | R | 213 | 213 | 0 | ||
| 91 | Tim Belcher | R | 212 | 118 | 94 | |
| Vern Law | R | 212 | 0 | 212 | ||
| 93 | Bob Buhl | R | 211 | 0 | 211 | |
| Liván Hernández | R | 211 | 7 | 204 | ||
| Albert Spalding | R | 211 | 0 | 47 | Includes 164 in National Association; held major league record, 1874-1883 | |
| Rick Sutcliffe | R | 211 | 77 | 134 | ||
| 97 | Camilo Pascual | R | 210 | 209 | 1 | |
| 98 | Mel Harder | R | 209 | 209 | 0 | |
| Harry Howell | R | 209 | 192 | 17 | ||
| 100 | Bullet Joe Bush | R | 208 | 203 | 5 | |
| Dennis Eckersley | R | 208 | 160 | 48 | ||
| Player | Throws | Putouts as a pitcher | Other leagues, notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | American League | National League | ||||
| Jim Bunning | R | 206 | 105 | 101 | ||
| Joe McGinnity | R | 202 | 24 | 178 | ||
| Early Wynn | R | 193 | 193 | 0 | ||
| Grover Cleveland Alexander | R | 189 | 0 | 189 | ||
| Don Drysdale | R | 188 | 0 | 188 | ||
| Clark Griffith | R | 179 | 32 | 137 | Includes 10 in American Association | |
| Amos Rusie | R | 176 | 0 | 176 | ||
| Stan Coveleski | R | 174 | 174 | 0 | ||
| Chief Bender | R | 173 | 148 | 13 | Includes 12 in Federal League | |
| Whitey Ford | L | 173 | 173 | 0 | ||
| Mordecai Brown | R | 171 | 0 | 159 | Includes 12 in Federal League | |
| Rube Waddell | L | 170 | 122 | 48 | ||
| John Montgomery Ward | R | 169 | 0 | 169 | ||
| Carl Hubbell | L | 155 | 0 | 155 | ||
| Pedro Martínez | R | 155 | 89 | 66 | ||
| Waite Hoyt | R | 153 | 121 | 32 | ||
| Red Ruffing | R | 153 | 153 | 0 | ||
| Bob Feller | R | 146 | 146 | 0 | ||
| Addie Joss | R | 144 | 144 | 0 | ||
| Hal Newhouser | L | 135 | 135 | 0 | ||
| Eppa Rixey | L | 131 | 0 | 131 | ||
| Red Faber | R | 130 | 130 | 0 | ||
| Dazzy Vance | R | 126 | 1 | 125 | ||
| Hoyt Wilhelm | R | 114 | 68 | 46 | ||
| Mariano Rivera | R | 110 | 110 | 0 | ||
| Steve Carlton | L | 109 | 4 | 105 | ||
| Rollie Fingers | R | 108 | 77 | 31 | ||
| Jesse Haines | R | 107 | 0 | 107 | ||
| Jack Chesbro | R | 103 | 71 | 32 | ||
| Herb Pennock | L | 101 | 101 | 0 | ||
| Candy Cummings * | R | 100 | 0 | 15 | Includes 85 in National Association | |
| Babe Ruth | L | 95 | 95 | 0 | ||
| Randy Johnson | L | 90 | 64 | 26 | ||
| Bruce Sutter | R | 90 | 0 | 90 | ||
| Rich Gossage | R | 78 | 59 | 19 | ||
| Dizzy Dean | R | 76 | 0 | 76 | ||
| Hank O'Day | R | 76 | 0 | 46 | Includes 19 in American Association, 11 in Players' League | |
| Bullet Rogan | R | 69 | 0 | 0 | Includes 69 in Negro National League (first) (incomplete) | |
| Trevor Hoffman | R | 66 | 0 | 66 | ||
| Lefty Grove | L | 65 | 65 | 0 | ||
| Sandy Koufax | L | 64 | 0 | 64 | ||
| Rube Marquard | L | 63 | 0 | 63 | ||
| Satchel Paige | R | 57 | 17 | 0 | Includes 18 in Negro American League, 13 in Negro National League (second), 9 in Negro National League (first) (incomplete) | |
| Lefty Gomez | L | 56 | 56 | 0 | ||
| Lee Smith | R | 52 | 10 | 42 | ||
| Andy Cooper | L | 51 | 0 | 0 | Includes 46 in Negro National League (first), 5 in Negro American League (incomplete) | |
| Ray Brown | R | 38 | 0 | 0 | Includes 32 in Negro National League (second), 4 in East–West League, 2 in Negro National League (first) (incomplete) | |
| José Méndez | R | 30 | 0 | 0 | Includes 30 in Negro National League (first) (incomplete) | |
| Bill Foster | L | 25 | 0 | 0 | Includes 12 in Negro National League (first), 12 in Negro National League (second), 1 in Negro American League (incomplete) | |
| Hilton Smith | R | 24 | 0 | 0 | Includes 24 in Negro American League (incomplete) | |
| Martín Dihigo | R | 17 | 0 | 0 | Includes 10 in Negro National League (second), 6 in Eastern Colored League, 1 in American Negro League (incomplete) | |
| Leon Day | R | 16 | 0 | 0 | Includes 16 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) | |
| Smokey Joe Williams | R | 10 | 0 | 0 | Includes 7 in American Negro League, 3 in East–West League (incomplete) | |
| Tommy Lasorda | L | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||