Strikeouts Reach Record High for 11th Straight Year

Hitters struck out more than 40,000 times for the second year in Major League Baseball history.

NEW YORK  -- Major League Baseball has set a strikeouts record for the 11th consecutive year - and with four days to spare.

There were 40,196 strikeouts through Wednesday, topping last year's 40,104 - the first season strikeouts reached 40,000. There were 32,189 in 2007, the last season without a record, and 30,801 in 2003.

This will be the first season in major league history with more strikeouts than hits. There were 40,098 hits through Wednesday.