When does a player's time at bat officially end?

A player's time at bat officially ends when he is put out or becomes a runner. This encompasses various scenarios, including striking out, hitting the ball and being put out during a play at a base, or reaching base safely. The act of becoming a runner signifies that the player has successfully navigated the at-bat phase and is now actively participating in the game as part of the on-base team.

The duration of a player's time at bat is specifically designed to capture all outcomes that arise during their attempt to hit the ball and advance on the bases, thus including outs and successful reaches to first base. This approach helps ensure the game's flow, as it directly ties a player's individual batting performance to the larger gameplay context, indicating when their individual effort has concluded.