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Baseball Glossary
Learn the language of Baseball — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
80 terms
- Release PointIntermediateRelease point is the precise spatial location in front of the body where the pitcher lets go of the ball — consistency here is the foundation of command.
- Rolling OverIntermediateRolling over is a swing fault where the top hand rotates over the bottom hand too early, closing the barrel through contact and producing weak grounders to the pull side.
- Rotational HittingIntermediateRotational hitting is a swing model where power comes primarily from the rotation of the hips and torso rather than forward body weight transfer. It is the dominant power model in modern baseball.
- Scouting Report (Player)IntermediateA scouting report is a written evaluation of a player that grades their tools, describes their present skill level and physical projection, and gives an overall opinion of their future outlook.
- Secondary LeadIntermediateThe secondary lead is the movement a baserunner takes as the pitch crosses the plate. A walking step or shuffle that adds momentum toward the next base the moment contact is made.
- Short HopIntermediateA short hop is a ball picked immediately after it strikes the dirt, caught in the instant it begins to rise — usually the most reliable point of the bounce. This is because the ball has had no room to deviate.
- Showcase EventIntermediateA showcase event is an organized gathering where players perform standardized drills and tests — such as 60-yard dash times, throwing velocity, exit velocity, and pitching velocity — in front of college recruiters or pro scouts, rather than in the context of a regular game.
- Situational HittingIntermediateSituational hitting is adjusting a hitter's approach — swing decision, target location, and aggressiveness — to match the specific game situation, such as the count, number of outs, and where runners are, rather than swinging the same way in every at-bat.
- SliderIntermediateThe slider is a breaking ball with lateral movement and some downward tilt, faster than a curveball and usually sharper in its late break.
- Spray AngleIntermediateSpray angle is the horizontal direction the ball travels off the bat — pull side, up the middle, or opposite field — determined by when in the swing the barrel meets the ball.
- Strikeout RateIntermediateStrikeout rate (K%) is the percentage of plate appearances that end in a strikeout — elevated K% reduces a hitter's value by eliminating batted-ball outcomes entirely.
- Topspin Contact (Batting)IntermediateTopspin contact happens when the barrel meets the ball above its center, imparting forward rotation that drives it down into the ground quickly — the spin signature behind most weak, rollover ground balls.
- Two-Seam Fastball / SinkerIntermediateThe two-seam fastball is gripped along two seams and usually moves arm-side and downward, inducing ground balls rather than strikeouts.
- Two-Strike ApproachIntermediateA two-strike approach is the contact-first adjustment a hitter makes with two strikes — shortening the swing, expanding strike-zone coverage, and prioritizing putting the ball in play over power.
- Uppercut SwingIntermediateAn uppercut swing is a bat path that rises too steeply through the hitting zone — beyond the pitch's downward plane — producing pop-ups, high infield flies, and a short contact window instead of hard line drives.
- Video Breakdown SessionIntermediateA video breakdown session is a focused review of recorded swing, pitching, or fielding video with a coach or player, used to identify specific mechanical patterns and turn them into concrete practice priorities.
- Walk RateIntermediateWalk rate (BB%) is the percentage of a hitter's plate appearances that end in a walk. An indicator of plate discipline, pitch recognition, and the ability to take advantage of a pitcher's wildness.
- Whiff RateIntermediateWhiff rate is the percentage of swings that result in no contact at all — distinct from chase rate. This measures the decision to swing, whiff rate measures what happens once the swing is already committed.
- Wrapping the BatIntermediateWrapping the bat is a load fault where the barrel rotates too far behind the hitter's head or back. This adds distance and time the barrel must travel to reach the launch position before the swing can even begin.
- Zone HittingIntermediateZone hitting is the approach of only swinging at pitches in the specific area of the strike zone where the hitter is most dangerous — avoiding the edges where their swing produces weak contact.
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