Baseball Terms Explained | rskv
Few sports have more lingo being tossed around the field than baseball. Your child will have a tough time getting the hang of it if they don’t understand the game’s jargon. Communication between players, coaches, and referees is crucial, so here are a few terms you and your child will come across on the diamond.
Ace
Best starting pitcher
Around the horn
After an out is recorded, teams throw the ball around the infield
Balk
When the pitcher tries to trick the base runners with illegal motions
Bunt
When a batter holds the baseball bat out and tries to barely tap the ball in order to advance another base runner
Can of corn
Easy fly ball
Change up
A pitch that is meant to appear fast, but is actually much slower than it looks
Cleanup
A player that hits the ball exceptionally well and is the fourth batter in the batting order
Count
The number of balls and strikes on a batter. A 3-2 count means the batter has three balls and two strikes
Diamond
The four bases of the infield
Dinger
Home run
Double play
A defensive play that results in two players being tagged out
Error
A defensive mistake that allows a batter to reach base or a base runner to advance
Fly ball
A ball that is hit high into the air
Full count
When the pitch count has 3 balls and 2 strikes. The next strike or ball will end the at bat. If the batter hits the baseball foul, then the count remains 3 and 2 and are allowed another attempt to hit the ball
Ground ball, or “grounder”
A baseball that is hit on the ground
Hit and run
A play where the base runner starts running when the pitch is released in order to get a head start. The batter must hit the ball into play so the runner doesn’t get out
Hit for the cycle
When a player hits a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in one game
Hot corner
Third base position
Lead runner
The first base runner when more than one runner is on base
Bases loaded
When a base runner is at all three bases
On-deck
The next batter up to bat
Pickle
When a base runner is in a rundown
Pinch hitter/runner
Substitute hitters/runners
Pitch out
A pitch that cannot be hit by the batter
Position player
Any player on the field except the pitcher
Power hitter
A skilled batter that hits the baseball far, usually for home runs or extra bases
Relay
When the ball travels from one fielder to another, then another
Reliever/relief pitcher
A replacement pitcher for when the starting pitcher reaches the pitch limit or their shoulder becomes too worn-out to continue pitching for that game
Rundown
When a baserunner is stranded between two bases and in jeopardy of being tagged out
Runners at the corners
Base runners on 1st and 3rd
Scoring position
A base runner on 2nd or 3rd base is in the position to make it to home plate and score a run
Strike zone
The area over home plate, above the batter’s knees, and below the batter’s chest where pitches are called. If a pitch does not enter this zone, it’s not a fair pitch
Walk
When the pitcher throws four balls to a batter, the batter gets to walk to first base
A double play referring to positions by their numerical designation; the ball is fielded by the shortstop (6), thrown to 2nd base (4), and then thrown to 1st base (3)