A strikeout (K) occurs in baseball when a batter accumulates three strikes during their at-bat, resulting in an out. Strikes can be called by the umpire for swinging and missing the ball or for not swinging at a pitch that is within the strike zone. The strikeout is a key statistic for both pitchers and batters, reflecting a pitcher's ability to dominate hitters and a batter's difficulty in making contact. In baseball statistics, the letter "K" is used to denote a strikeout, with a backward "K" representing a strikeout looking, where the batter does not swing. Pitchers often aim to increase their strikeout totals as it indicates effectiveness, while batters strive to minimize strikeouts to maintain their batting average and contribute to their team's offense.