What is fielders choice?

A fielder's choice is a play in baseball or softball in which a fielder chooses to make a play on a baserunner (usually the batter) who is advancing to the next base, rather than making a play on the batter himself. The fielder may choose to throw to a different base in an attempt to put out another baserunner, rather than the one who hit the ball.

In scoring a fielder's choice, the batter is not credited with a hit, but is instead credited with reaching base on a fielder's choice. The fielder responsible for making the play is not charged with an error if a putout is recorded on another baserunner as a result of the play.

Fielder's choices can occur in a variety of situations, such as when a batter hits a ground ball and the infielder throws to a base to try and get a lead baserunner out, or when a baserunner is caught in a rundown between two bases and the fielder ultimately makes a throw to another base to record an out.