Our collection of baseball terms
Select from the alphabet. If you don't find a term you need explained, or you know a good baseball phrase that you think should be here, please send us an email (mail icon bottom of page).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y
| Phrase |
Definition |
| Dead Ball |
A temporary suspension of play casued by the ball being out of play. Runner(s) must return to previously acquired base(s) |
| Designated hitter |
Player who bats for the pitcher in the line-up. The DH does not have a fielding position. Note - if the DH is put in the game at a defensive position, the DH is no longer in effect for that game - another player must come out and the pitcher then bats in that player's position |
| Dinger |
A home run - from the ding on the ball |
| Dish |
Home plate |
| Distal vs Proximal |
The ends of bones. For "distal" think distance:
the distal end of any bone if the part away from the body. The end nearest you, in closer proximity to the body is "proximal". So the proximal end of the upper arm bone (the humerus) is what attaches to the shoulder within the rotator cuff, and the distal end is at the elbow joint.
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| Donut |
Circular shaped weight that slides over the bat to add weight during ondeck warm-up. Note - donuts can cause injury through muscle strain |
| Double |
Hit that enables a batter to reach second base. Note: it is not scored a double if he reached second only because of a play happening elsewhere (i.e. to get a runner going home). Also, if another runner is put out on the play, then it should be scored as a single with the advance to second on a fielder's choice |
| Double Play |
(DP) in scorekeeping. Two outs recorded in a single defensive sequence - otherwise known as the pitcher's friend |
| Doubleheader |
The weather's so nice, let's play twice. Two games on the same day - usually against same oponents |
| Drag Bunt |
A bunt intended to produce a base hit (vs sacrifice) in which the ball is pulled along the first base line as the batter starts running for the base. Best executed by left hand batters |
| Duck Snort |
A fly ball that barely makes it into the outfield and falls before the outfielders. Compare: texas leaguer |
| Ducks on a Pond |
Runners on base in scoring position when a hitter comes up to bat - making it easier to get an RBI. A hunter term for something "easy as shooting dunks on a pond." |
| Dugout |
Enclosed seating facility reserved for players, substitutes, coaches and other uniformed team members. Though placed below the field level for easier fan viewing, few (though some) youth ballparks have actual dug-out dugouts |
