America’s pastime has all kinds of interesting terminology, which we’ve included in this look at baseball slang.
Like solo shot and windup, some terms are used more routinely by fans, while others, like blue and choke up, are used for those closer to the game, like players, coaches, and analysts. Still, it is beneficial to understand these terms so you know what they mean when you hear them in baseball.
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Best Baseball Slang
We’ll start with some common terminology that every baseball fan should know.
Ace
The team’s top-rated starting pitcher has. An ace would want an ERA under 3.0 and pitch deep into a game.
Ahead in the count
When either the batter is closer to a walk or the pitcher is closer to a strikeout. A batter is ahead in the count when the count is 3-1. A pitcher is ahead in the count when the count is 0-2.
See our 250+ Funny Baseball Jokes For Kids Feature.
Around the horn
The infielders do an action after recording an out with no one on base. It involves the ball being tossed between each of the four infielders before returning to the pitcher for the next at-bat.
See A Guide to taking your child to their first MLB game
Basket catch
When a fielder catches the ball over his back and near waist level, these plays require extreme concentration to execute successfully.
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MLB Basket Catches YouTube Video
Good Baseball Jargon
Baseball phrases can be straightforward and conservative or creative and descriptive. Check out the baseball terms.
Base hit
A player reaching base safely with a solid hit and no errors. A player hitting a double, triple, or home run is considered an extra-base hit.
Bat around
It is rare that a team goes through all nine batters in the same inning, so it is special when it does happen.
Blooper
A weakly hit fly ball that falls between an outfielder and an infielder. Bloopers are not considered errors but just lucky hits.
Blue
A nickname players and coaches use for an umpire in baseball is derived from the color of their uniform, which is usually either light or dark blue.
Bump
Another term to describe the pitcher’s mound. The bump is located in the middle of the infield, 60 feet, six inches from the home plate.
Bullpen
The part of the ballpark is reserved for relief pitchers to sit and warm up. The bullpen is also referred to when discussing how well a team’s relief pitchers perform. “They really need to improve their bullpen to make a postseason run.”
Can of corn
A routine fly ball to the outfield. Not catching this would be considered an error.
Cannon
A player with a great throwing arm. Usually applied to outfielders, but can also be used for a shortstop, third basemen, or catcher.
Caught Looking
When a batter strikes out without swinging the bat on the third strike, the batter looks at the third strike.
Chin music – Baseball Slang
When a pitcher throws a pitch near the batter’s head, especially on a high-velocity pitch, sometimes this is done to get a batter off the plate, or the pitch could have just gotten away from the pitcher.
Choke up
When a batter places his hands further up the handle on a bat, rather than near the knob of the bat, players do this to have more control of the bat and shorten their swing.
Cleanup batter
The fourth player in a team’s batting order. If the first three batters reach base, the cleanup hitter can come up and hit a grand slam.
Comebacker
When a batter hits a pitch right back to the pitcher, this play can be dangerous for the pitcher’s health if it is hit back at a high velocity.
Cycle
When a player hits a single, double, triple and a home run in the same game, this feat is challenging to get since a batter usually gets no more than five at-bats.
Baseball Lingo
Knowing these baseball slang terms will help you understand the game, whether sitting on the player’s bench or in the crowd.
Dinger
Another name for a home run or homer.
Double play
A play in baseball where the defense records two outs on one play. Often this comes from a ground ball in the infield, but it can also come from a line drive or fly ball.
Frame
Either the top or bottom half of an inning. For away teams, they bat in the top frame and field in the bottom frame. For home teams, the field in the top frame and bat in the bottom frame.
Framed pitch
The action of a catcher receiving a pitch and making it appear like a strike is called framing a pitch. The catcher will catch the ball and turn his mitt to make a ball or borderline pitch appear to be a strike, hoping the umpire will give them the call.
Full Count
When there are three balls and two strikes in an at-bat, the next ball would be a walk, and the next strike would be an out. Pitchers need to throw a strike, and hitters are looking to swing the bat.
Gap
The space in the outfield between the outfielders. Many extra-base hits are hit in the gap.
Grand slam
A home run with the bases loaded. This is worth four runs, so this is the biggest baseball hit a player can have.
Hit and run
A designed play in baseball where the baserunner runs and the hitter tries to hit the ball. The baserunner begins running once he sees the pitcher throw a pitch, and the hitter does his best to contact the ball.
Immaculate Inning
When a pitcher strikes out all three batters in an inning with nine pitchers, the pitcher throws nine consecutive strikes.
No-hitter
When a pitcher throws a no-hitter, he allows no hits but allows a baserunner through a walk or his team has a defensive error. No-hitters are the second-best feat a pitcher can have in a single game following a perfect game.
Perfect Game
When a pitcher throws a perfect game, he doesn’t allow any baserunners and faces the minimum hitters possible with no hits. A perfect game would require a pitcher to record an out on all 27 batters fac in normal nine-inning games.
See our How long is a baseball game?
Slugger
A player is notorious for his power-hitting. The greatest sluggers will have the highest slugging percentage. The top slugger in each position in the American League and National League gets the Silver Slugger Award each year in the MLB.
Slump
A period in which a player or team is not performing well. A player getting two hits in his last 40 at-bats would be an example of a player in a slump.
Solo shot – Baseball Slang
A home run with no one on base is worth one run. A home run with one man on base can be called a two-run shot since it is worth two runs; a home run with two men on base can be called a three-run shot since it is worth three runs.
Southpaw
A name for a left-handed pitcher. Most pitchers are right-handed, so southpaws are unique in baseball.
Stranded
A baserunner reaches base safely but is left on base without scoring at the end of a frame. An example is when a baserunner is on second with two outs, then the batter strikes out for the third out without scoring the player on second base.
Submarine pitcher
A pitcher with an unorthodox release point is typically closer to the pitcher’s side rather than over the top. Submarine-style pitchers don’t usually throw as fast as orthodox pitchers, but their strange delivery can be challenging to hit against.
MLB Submarine Pitchers Video
Sweet Spot
A spot on the barrel of the baseball bat where the ball will travel the furthest. Hitting the sweet spot on the bat will create a loud popping sound.
Take the hill
The act of a pitcher going onto the pitching mound, typically to start a game or to take the mound. “He takes the hill to begin the bottom of the third.”
Wheelhouse
A section where a hitter tends to find great success with power. The wheelhouse for many hitters is higher in the strike zone.
Windup
A continuous motion is used by pitchers when no one is on base or a man is on third. Once the windup starts, the pitcher must finish it, or it will be a balk.
We hope you enjoyed our collection of baseball slang and lingo.
By Nathan Dunn and Mike O’Halloran
Nathan is a sportswriter based in Kansas City who writes about baseball, football, and soccer. Mike is the founder and editor of Sports Feel Good Stories.
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
Extra Innings
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