[take] the pitch

(of a batter in baseball or softball) to let the thrown ball go by without attempting to hit it

The batter decided to take the first pitch to get a better read on the pitcher's style.
The coach advised the players to take pitches early in the game to assess the opposing pitcher's strategy.
Knowing the importance of patience, the batter chose to take several pitches before committing to a swing.
The experienced hitter had a keen eye and could accurately decide when to take a pitch and when to swing.
In a tight game, the batter opted to take a few pitches to increase the likelihood of drawing a walk.