What is a assist in baseball?

In baseball, an assist (also written as "a") is a statistic credited to a defensive player for their contribution to an out that is recorded. An assist is awarded when a player's defensive play directly leads to the recording of an out, such as throwing out a runner or fielding a ground ball and throwing it to first base for the out.

Assists are typically credited to infielders and outfielders who make throws resulting in outs, but they can also be awarded to catchers who throw out baserunners attempting to steal a base. A player can also receive multiple assists on a single play, such as when a runner is thrown out at second base on a double play.

Assists are an important part of evaluating a player's defensive skills and contributions to a team. They are recorded and tracked as part of a player's overall statistics, alongside other defensive metrics like putouts and errors.