Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport with two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The pitcher throws the ball to the batter, who tries to hit it to score runs by running through a series of four bases. The fielding team aims to get players out through strikeouts, catching fly balls, or tagging runners. A game consists of nine innings, and if scores are tied, extra innings are played. The sport originated in 18th-century England, evolving into its modern form in the United States. Baseball is widely popular in the Americas and East Asia, with Major League Baseball (MLB) being the highest level of professional play in the U.S. and Canada. Beyond North America, baseball enjoys a strong following in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Japan. The sport has a rich history and cultural significance, often called