full count

[ fool kount ]

noun

, Baseball.

1. a count of three balls and two strikes on the batter, considered full because either a fourth ball or a third strike would end the at-bat by, respectively, walking or striking out the batter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of full count¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Bases loaded, two outs, full count and Buehler had struck out Francisco Lindor with … a curveball?

From Los Angeles Times

But in the fifth inning, he encountered a situation similar to the one he faced Wednesday night: one-run lead, two men on, full count, and one of baseball’s most feared hitters at the plate.

From Los Angeles Times

In the first inning, Betts walked on four pitches, Freddie Freeman took a free base from a full count and Teoscar Hernández watched four more balls miss the strike zone to load the bases.

From Los Angeles Times

The first full count for five years on the Farne Islands off Northumberland has revealed the endangered species has in fact increased by 15% since 2019.

From BBC

With two outs and Mitch Haniger on first with a single, Raley walked on a full count.

From Seattle Times