A single in baseball is the most common type of base hit, achieved when a batter hits a fair ball and safely reaches first base without the help of an error or a fielder's choice (an attempt to put out another runner)
. The batter must get to first base before being tagged out or thrown out by a fielder. Singles can be made by hitting the ball anywhere on the field, from a bunt or infield dribbler to a hard hit ball to the outfield wall, as long as the batter safely reaches first base
. Singles are important because they advance the batter to first base and often allow runners on second or third base to score, and sometimes runners on first base can advance to third, depending on the hit's location and the outfielder's reaction
. Players who specialize in hitting singles are often called contact hitters or slap hitters, focusing on making solid contact and using speed to reach base safely
. Unlike doubles, triples, or home runs, singles only advance the batter to first base, but they keep the game moving by creating scoring opportunities and forcing defensive plays like force outs or double plays on the next batter
. Statistically, singles are the majority of hits in baseball and are a key part of offensive strategy
. In summary, a single is a base hit where the batter reaches first base safely by hitting the ball into fair territory without errors or fielder's choices, making it a fundamental and frequent offensive play in baseball
