Baseball Glossary of Terms
Here is a comprehensive glossary of essential baseball terms, providing definitions and explanations to enhance your understanding of this sport.
Bunt - the ball is tapped gently into the infield
- Base on balls - when a batter recieved four balls and is entitled to an automatic walk to first base
- Bottom of the 1st, 2nd... the second half of the innings
- Breaking ball - when the ball changes direction in the air
- Batting average - the number of hits divided by number of times a player has batted. It is always calculated to three decimal places (for example .123)
- Bunt - the ball is tapped gently into the infield
- Designated hitter - where a player bats instead of the pitcher, and does not field
- Double - when a batter reaches second base from one hit
- Double header - two scheduled matches played one after the other
- Earned run average - the number of runs scored compared to how many innings a pitcher has pitched for
- Error - when a fielder makes a mistake that would normally have put a runner out
- Fake - a pitcher pretends to pitch but turns to try and stop a runner from stealing base
- Force play - when a batter becomes a runner, so all runners are forced to advance
- Grand slam - when a batter scores a home run with a player on each base, scoring four runs in one go
- Ground ball - a batted ball that travels along or close to the ground
- Line drive - a ball hit hard in a straight line
- Loaded base - when a base is occupied
- No hitter - when the pitcher has not given any runs away
- Pinch hitter - substitute batter
- RBI - runs batted in, where players are credited with runs scored as a result of their hit, whether they run or other players do. All players concerned are credited with runs
- Retouch - when a batter returns to base
- Run down - when the defensive team puts out a runner between bases, also called 'caught in the hot box'
- Safe - an umpire call when a runner has made a base
- Single - when a batter reaches first base from one hit
- Squeeze play - when a team has a runner on third base they can score that runner by the batter playing a bunt
- Switch hitter - when a batter can hit the ball using either hand
- Tie game - a game that is level after the ordinary number of innings
- Top of the 1st, 2nd... the first half of an innings
- Triple - when a batter reaches third base from one hit
- Wild pitch - a pitch too high, low or wide for the catcher to catch
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