Overview
An intentional walk is a tactical decision to deliberately put a dangerous batter on first base rather than pitch to him. The decision weighs factors such as matchup with the next batter, double play potential, and runner positioning. In 2018, both NPB and MLB introduced the automatic intentional walk, allowing managers to signal the walk without the pitcher throwing four pitches. While this shortened game time, it eliminated dramatic moments like Tsuyoshi Shinjo's walk-off hit on an intentional ball in 2000. Sadaharu Oh received a career 427 intentional walks, illustrating how the frequency of intentional walks serves as a measure of a batter's perceived threat.