50 baseball terms and slang defined, from can of corn and chin music to dinger, southpaw and walk-off, each in one short line.
Baseball terminology is a language of its own: some of it is written into the rulebook, the rest grew up in dugouts and broadcast booths. The words related to baseball below cover pitching, hitting, fielding and the scoreboard, and the words associated with the ballpark itself come along with them. If you only want the short answer to a single term, the baseball glossary further down lists every word on this page from A to Z, plus the slang that never made it into the rulebook.
Must-Know Baseball Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Balk
- Changeup
- Cleanup hitter
- Dugout
- Grand slam
- Knuckleball
- On deck
- Pinch hitter
- Sacrifice fly
- Walk-off
- Curveball
- Double play
- Fastball
- Inning
- Leadoff hitter
- Mound
- No-hitter
- Outfielder
- Pop fly
- RBI (Runs Batted In)
- Relief pitcher
- Slugger
- Strikeout
- Triple play
- Umpire
- Walk
- Warning track
- Whiff
- Designated hitter
- Error
Baseball Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Balk | An illegal move by the pitcher with runners on base, usually a deceptive or interrupted delivery. Every runner advances one base. |
| Ballpark | The stadium itself. Also "the yard," "the park" or, in older usage, "the diamond." |
| Batter up | The call for the next hitter to step into the batter's box. It signals that play is about to start. |
| Battery | The pitcher and catcher together, counted as one unit. |
| Bullpen | The area where relief pitchers warm up, and by extension the relief staff as a group. |
| Bump | Slang for the pitcher's mound. A pitcher who starts a game "takes the bump." |
| Can of corn | An easy, high fly ball that an outfielder catches without moving much. |
| Changeup | A pitch thrown with fastball arm action but much less speed, so the batter swings early. |
| Cheese | Slang for a hard fastball. "High cheese" is a fastball up in the zone. |
| Chin music | A pitch thrown high and inside, close to the batter's head, to push him off the plate. |
| Cleanup hitter | The fourth batter in the order, picked for power because runners are often on base ahead of him. |
| Closer | The relief pitcher used to finish a close game, normally in the ninth inning. |
| Curveball | A pitch with heavy topspin that breaks downward on its way to the plate. |
| Designated hitter | A batter who hits in place of the pitcher and plays no defensive position. |
| Dinger | Slang for a home run. So are "tater," "bomb" and "going yard." |
| Double play | Two outs recorded on one continuous play, most often on a ground ball. |
| Dugout | The bench area along the foul line where players sit when they are not on the field. |
| Error | A fielding mistake that lets a batter or runner reach a base he should not have reached. |
| Fastball | The straight, high-velocity pitch that most pitchers throw more than any other. |
| Full count | Three balls and two strikes. The next pitch ends the at-bat unless it is fouled off. |
| Going yard | Hitting a home run, from the ball leaving the ballpark. |
| Grand slam | A home run with runners on all three bases, worth four runs. |
| Hill | Another name for the pitcher's mound, from its raised shape. |
| Inning | One segment of the game in which each team bats until it makes three outs. A full game is nine innings. |
| Knuckleball | A pitch thrown with almost no spin so the air moves it unpredictably. Hard to hit and hard to catch. |
| Leadoff hitter | The first batter in the order, usually a player who gets on base often and runs well. |
| Meatball | An easy pitch down the middle of the plate, the kind hitters are supposed to punish. |
| Mound | The raised circle of dirt the pitcher throws from, 60 feet 6 inches from home plate. |
| No-hitter | A game in which the pitching team allows no hits. Walks and errors are still possible. |
| On deck | The next batter due up, waiting in the on-deck circle beside the dugout. |
| Outfielder | A player stationed beyond the infield: left field, center field or right field. |
| Perfect game | A game in which no opposing batter reaches base at all, by hit, walk or error. |
| Pinch hitter | A substitute batter sent in to hit for another player. |
| Pinch runner | A substitute sent in to run for a player already on base, usually for his speed. |
| Pop fly | A ball hit steeply into the air over the infield or shallow outfield. Normally an easy out. |
| RBI | Runs batted in. The number of runs that score as a direct result of a hitter's at-bats. |
| Relief pitcher | A pitcher who comes in after the starter, often for one inning or one matchup. |
| Sacrifice fly | A fly ball caught for an out that still lets a runner score from third base. |
| Slugger | A hitter known for power and home runs. |
| Southpaw | A left-handed pitcher. |
| Strike zone | The area over home plate between the batter's knees and the midpoint of his torso. |
| Strikeout | An out recorded when a batter takes three strikes. |
| Tater | Slang for a home run, used the same way as "dinger." |
| Triple play | Three outs on one continuous play. The rarest defensive sequence in the game. |
| Two-way player | A player who both pitches and hits regularly instead of doing only one. |
| Umpire | The official who calls balls, strikes, outs and fair or foul balls. |
| Walk | Four pitches outside the strike zone in one at-bat, which sends the batter to first base. Also called a base on balls. |
| Walk-off | The winning run scored by the home team in the bottom of the final inning, which ends the game on the spot. |
| Warning track | The strip of dirt in front of the outfield wall that tells fielders the wall is close. |
| Whiff | A swing that misses the ball completely. |
#1 Balk
An illegal motion by the pitcher when one or more runners are on base, which can lead to runners advancing. A balk can result from a variety of actions, such as an interrupted or deceptive delivery.
#2 Changeup
A pitch thrown with a similar arm action to a fastball, but at a significantly slower speed. The changeup deceives the batter by disrupting their timing, making it an effective pitch in the right hands.
#3 Cleanup hitter
Typically the fourth batter in the lineup known for power hitting and the ability to drive in runs. The cleanup hitter’s objective is often to “clean the bases” by batting in teammates on base.
#4 Dugout
The area along the foul lines near home plate where players sit when not on the field. The dugout serves as the team’s headquarters during a game, providing shelter and a strategic meeting place.
#5 Grand Slam
A home run hit with all three bases occupied, resulting in four runs scoring. It’s a significant, game-changing hit and is one of the most exciting plays in baseball.
#6 Knuckleball
A pitch with an unpredictable trajectory, thrown without spin by gripping with the knuckles or fingertips. The knuckleball’s erratic movement makes it hard for batters and catchers alike to anticipate.
#7 On Deck
The term “on deck” refers to the next batter scheduled to bat after the current batter. This player typically waits in a designated area close to the team’s dugout, known as the on-deck circle, preparing to bat by warming up, taking practice swings, and watching the pitcher.
#8 Pinch hitter
A pinch hitter is a substitute batter brought into the game to bat in place of another player, typically because of strategic decisions related to the pitcher-batter matchup, the current player’s batting performance, or injury. Pinch hitters are often used in critical situations to increase the likelihood of getting a hit.
#9 Sacrifice fly
A deliberate hit that allows a runner to score from third base, even though the batter is almost guaranteed to be out. It’s a strategic play that prioritizes a team’s run over an individual’s batting performance.
#10 Walk-off
A term used when the home team scores the winning run in the bottom of the final inning, ending the game immediately. It’s a dramatic finish that sends the fans home happy and the team into victory celebration.
#11 Curveball
A type of pitch that curves dramatically in flight due to spin, making it difficult for the batter to hit. It’s a key weapon in a pitcher’s arsenal, used to outwit hitters with its deceptive movement.
#12 Double play
A play in which two offensive players are put out as a result of continuous action, typically involving a ground ball. It’s a momentum-shifting moment and a testament to a team’s defensive coordination.
#13 Fastball
A pitch thrown at high speed, often the fastest pitch in a pitcher’s repertoire. It’s a classic show of strength and pitching prowess, aiming to overpower the batter with sheer velocity.
#14 Inning
A segment of the game that consists of each team having a turn to bat until three outs are recorded. A standard game consists of nine innings, and they are the fundamental structure of baseball’s flow.
#15 Leadoff hitter
The leadoff hitter is the first batter in the lineup for a team in a baseball game. This position is crucial because the leadoff hitter sets the tone for the inning. Typically, leadoff hitters are known for their ability to get on base, speed, and solid batting skills to spark offensive opportunities.
#16 Mound
The mound, or pitcher’s mound, is a raised section of the baseball field where the pitcher stands when throwing the pitch. It is elevated to give the pitcher a gravity advantage, making pitches faster and more challenging for the batter to hit. The regulation distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate is 60 feet, 6 inches.
#17 No-hitter
A rare pitching accomplishment where one or more pitchers do not allow the opposing team to get a hit throughout the entire game. It’s a testament to exceptional skill and often celebrated as a significant achievement.
#18 Outfielder
Players who patrol the outfield (the grassy area beyond the infield) and are responsible for catching fly balls and preventing hits from becoming extra bases. Their roles are categorized as left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder.
#19 Pop fly
A ball hit high into the air within the infield or shallow outfield. These are typically easy plays for fielders and often result in an out, assuming the ball is caught before it touches the ground.
#20 RBI (Runs Batted In)
A statistic that measures the total number of runs a hitter contributes by their at-bats, excluding runs scored due to errors or fielder’s choice. An important measure of a player’s offensive productivity.
#21 Relief pitcher
A pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed and specializes in pitching for short periods, often in high-pressure situations. Their job is crucial for preserving leads or keeping the game within reach.
#22 Slugger
A term for a baseball player known for their ability to hit home runs and drive in runs. A slugger typically has a high slugging percentage, indicating their power-hitting capability.
#23 Strikeout
A strikeout occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes before putting the ball in play or being awarded a walk. Strikeouts can happen through swinging misses, called strikes by the umpire, or foul balls when already having two strikes (except for certain foul tips caught by the catcher).
#24 Triple Play
A rare defensive play where three outs are recorded in a single continuous play, usually occurring when the fielding team catches a batted ball and then tags or throws out two additional runners before they can safely advance.
#25 Umpire
An official who enforces the rules of the game, calls balls and strikes, and makes decisions on plays. Baseball typically has a crew of umpires, with one calling the game behind home plate and others positioned around the field.
#26 Walk
Also known as a base on balls, this occurs when a pitcher throws four pitches out of the strike zone during a batter’s at-bat, allowing the batter to advance to first base without the risk of being put out.
#27 Warning Track
The strip of dirt or different-colored artificial surface that runs parallel to the outfield wall, alerting outfielders they are approaching the wall as they track a flyball, potentially helping them avoid a collision.
#28 Whiff
Slang for when a batter swings at a pitch and misses it entirely. It’s often used in the context of a strikeout, highlighting the batter’s failure to make contact with the ball on a swing.
#29 Designated Hitter
A player in the batting lineup who does not play a defensive position, used primarily in the American League. The designated hitter bats in place of the pitcher, adding offensive potential to the lineup.
#30 Error
An error in baseball is a mistake made by a fielder that allows a batter or runner to reach a base or advance an extra base that they would not have reached with ordinary effort. Errors can include misplays such as fumbling the ball, overthrowing a base, or dropping a catchable fly ball. Errors negatively impact the fielding team by potentially leading to unearned runs.
FAQ
What is the term for a pitcher allowing no player to reach base?
A perfect game. No opposing batter reaches base by hit, walk, hit by pitch or error. A no-hitter is the weaker version: no hits allowed, but walks and errors may still have put runners on.
What do you call it when a team brings in a faster player to run the bases?
A pinch runner. The substitute takes the place of the runner already on base, usually late in a close game, and the player he replaced is out of the game for good.
What is slang for a good baseball hitter?
A slugger, if the strength is power. Announcers also say a hitter “can rake,” “can mash” or is “locked in.” A player who hits home runs regularly gets called a masher or a basher.
What does batter up mean in baseball?
It is the call for the next hitter to step into the batter’s box so play can begin. The player who hears it next is the one waiting in the on-deck circle.
What is the slang for a pitcher’s mound?
The hill or the bump. Pitchers also talk about “the rubber,” which is the white slab set into the mound that they must keep a foot on while delivering the pitch.
The vocabulary falls into a few groups: pitching (fastball, curveball, changeup, knuckleball, balk), hitting (slugger, cleanup hitter, grand slam, whiff, full count), fielding (error, double play, warning track, can of corn) and the ballpark itself (dugout, mound, bullpen). The baseball glossary above lists all of them in one place.
What are some Baseball terms for beginners?
“Balk,” “Fastball,” and “Grand slam,” are some Baseball terms beginners should start with to understand pitching mistakes, a common type of pitch, and a four-run home run.
What are some funny Baseball terms?
“Knuckleball,” “Whiff,” and “Meatball,” are some funny Baseball terms, referring to a fluttering pitch, a missed swing, and an easy pitch to hit hard, injecting humor into the sport’s vocabulary.
What is a famous Baseball phrase?
“Touch ’em all,” is a famous Baseball phrase, used when a player hits a home run and rounds all the bases, celebrating one of the sport’s most exciting plays.
