Baseball Glossary
Learn the language of Baseball — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
161 terms
- Sacrifice FlyBeginnerA sacrifice fly is a fly ball out, hit deep enough to the outfield, that allows a runner on third base to tag up and score after the catch. This means it does not count as an official at-bat and does not hurt the hitter's batting average.
- 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.
- Seam-Shifted Wake (SSW)ProSeam-Shifted Wake is an aerodynamic effect where an off-center seam orientation disrupts airflow asymmetrically. This produces movement that cannot be predicted from spin rate or axis alone.
- Secondary LeadIntermediateThe secondary lead is the movement a baserunner takes as the pitch crosses the plate. This means 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. This means usually the most reliable point of the bounce. This is. 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. This means such as 60-yard dash times, throwing velocity, exit velocity, and pitching velocity. This means 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. This means swing decision, target location, and aggressiveness. This means 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.
- SlideBeginnerA slide is the controlled fall a baserunner uses to reach a base beneath a tag, to kill momentum at the bag, or to avoid a collision with the fielder covering it.
- SliderIntermediateThe slider is a breaking ball with lateral movement and some downward tilt, faster than a curveball and typically sharper in its late break.
- Spin Rate (Pitching)AdvancedSpin rate is how fast the ball rotates in revolutions per minute (RPM) after leaving the hand. This means higher spin amplifies the Magnus effect and increases pitch movement.
- Splitter / ForkballAdvancedThe splitter is an off-speed pitch gripped with the fingers spread across the seams. This produces late diving action that generates weak contact or swings below the zone.
- Spray AngleIntermediateSpray angle is the horizontal direction the ball travels off the bat. This means pull side, up the middle, or opposite field. This means determined by when in the swing the barrel meets the ball.
- Squared-Up RateAdvancedSquared-up rate measures how close a batted ball's exit velocity comes to the maximum possible speed the bat and pitch could theoretically produce on that particular swing. This means a measure of contact-point precision independent of raw bat speed.
- Squeeze Play (Bunt)AdvancedA squeeze play is a bunt called in particular to score a runner from third base. This means a "suicide squeeze" sends the runner as the pitch is thrown regardless of where the bunt goes. At the same time, a "safety squeeze" holds the runner until the bunt is down.
- Stride (Batting)BeginnerThe stride is the small forward step or toe-tap the hitter takes to trigger timing. It is a timing mechanism, not a source of power, and must be soft and directional.
- Strike ZoneBeginnerThe strike zone is the three-dimensional region over home plate, between the batter's knees and the midpoint of the torso, where a pitch must pass to be called a strike.
- 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.
- Swing LengthAdvancedSwing length is the total distance the bat's barrel travels from the start of the swing to contact. This means a shorter, more direct path generally means less time is needed to react, at some cost to the maximum bat speed a longer path can generate.
- Tag UpBeginnerTagging up means a baserunner returns to and touches their current base as a fly ball is caught, then takes off toward the next base. This means the legal method of advancing on a caught fly.
- Throwing MechanicsBeginnerThrowing mechanics are the sequence of arm and body movements used to deliver the ball accurately and with arm-safe velocity. This means applicable to every position on the field.
- Time to ContactAdvancedTime to contact is how long, in fractions of a second, it takes a hitter's swing to travel from its trigger to the ball. This means the metric that ultimately determines how late a hitter can afford to start their swing against a given velocity.
- Toe Tap Timing TriggerBeginnerA toe tap is a small, quiet lift and set of the front foot used as a timing trigger instead of a full stride. This means it gives the hitter a repeatable rhythm cue with a smaller moving part to keep on time.
- Tools Grade Scale (20-80)AdvancedThe 20-80 scale is the standard scouting numbering system used to grade each of a player's tools, where 50 represents a Major League average, 80 is elite, and 20 is well below usable at the highest level.
- 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. This means the spin signature behind most weak, rollover ground balls.
- Travel BallBeginnerTravel ball is competitive youth baseball played for a club team outside the local recreational or school league, typically involving tournaments in multiple cities and a higher, more selective level of competition.
- Tunnel PointAdvancedThe tunnel point is the point in a pitch's flight. This means roughly where the batter must decide to swing. This means where two different pitch types are still on nearly identical trajectories before diverging.
- Turn TwoBeginner"Turn two" is baseball slang for successfully executing a double play. This means recording two outs on a single batted ball, most commonly a ground ball fed to a middle infielder who pivots and relays to first base.
- Two-Seam Fastball / SinkerIntermediateThe two-seam fastball is gripped along two seams and typically 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. This means shortening the swing, expanding strike-zone coverage, and prioritizing putting the ball in play over power.
- Two-Strike Choke UpBeginnerChoking up with two strikes means moving the hands up the handle away from the knob, shortening the bat's effective length to gain quicker, more controllable swings at the cost of some raw power.
- Two-Way PlayerBeginnerA two-way player is someone who both pitches and plays a position (or hits regularly) at a competitive level, rather than specializing in one role.
- Uppercut SwingIntermediateAn uppercut swing is a bat path that rises too steeply through the hitting zone. This means beyond the pitch's downward plane. This means producing pop-ups, high infield flies. 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. It is 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. This means an indicator of plate discipline, pitch recognition. The ability to take advantage of a pitcher's wildness.
- Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA)AdvancedWeighted On-Base Average (wOBA) gives each hitting outcome a run value. It combines walks and hits into one rate that is scaled like on-base percentage.
- Whiff on Spin vs VelocityProWhiff on spin vs velocity splits a hitter's swing-and-miss rate by pitch category. This means breaking and off-speed pitches versus hard, straight velocity. This means to reveal which specific pitch quality is causing misses rather than treating all whiffs as one problem.
- Whiff RateIntermediateWhiff rate is the percentage of swings that result in no contact at all. This means distinct from chase rate. This measures the decision to swing, whiff rate measures what happens once the swing is already committed.
- Windup vs. StretchBeginnerThe windup and the stretch are the two legal pitching positions. This means the full windup, used mainly with the bases empty for maximum power. The stretch, a shorter, quicker delivery used with runners on to control the running game.
- 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 Contact RateAdvancedZone contact rate is the percentage of swings at pitches inside the strike zone that result in contact. This means a core measure of basic bat-to-ball ability on pitches a hitter should be equipped to handle.
- 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. This means avoiding the edges where their swing produces weak contact.
See these terms in your own swing
SwingVantage analyzes your swing against these benchmarks — free to start.
Analyze My Baseball Swing Free