In
baseball statistics, a player is credited with a
plate appearance (denoted by
PA) each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: he
strikes out or is declared
out before reaching first base; or he reaches first base
safely or is awarded first base (by a
base on balls,
hit by pitch, or
catcher's interference); or he hits a
fair ball which causes a preceding runner to be put out for the third out before he himself is put out or reaches first base safely (
see also left on base,
fielder's choice,
force play). In other words, a plate appearance ends when the batter is put out or becomes a runner. A very similar statistic,
at bats, counts a subset of plate appearances that end under certain circumstances.