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Ace Pitcher – the best starting pitcher on the team

Active Roster – the players signed to a team and are available to play

At-Bat – a completed plate appearance by a batter

Ball – a pitch that does not land inside the strike zone

Baseline – the line that runs between two bases on the baseball field

Baserunner – a player on the offensive team (the one currently batting) that has safely made it to base

Batter – the player currently at bat

Batter’s Box – the rectangular boxes on either side of home plate where the batter must be standing for fair play to resume

Batting Average – the average number of hits a player has per at-bat

Batting Order – the order of batters for a particular game

Batting Practice – a period usually before a game where players work on their batting technique

Bottom of the Inning – the second half of an inning in which the home team bats

Catch – when a fielder catches a batted ball in their glove or hand before it hits the ground and keeps possession of it until they release it

Catcher – the player that crouches behind home plate while the opposing team is at-bat; receives the pitches from the pitcher

Center Field – central part of the outfield, behind second base

Center Fielder – the outfielder that plays defense in the area of center field

Cleanup Batter – the player that bats fourth in the lineup, usually a strong hitter; their goal is to “clean up” by getting the baserunners home

Closing Pitcher – relief pitcher that is used most often to close out the game by getting the final outs

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) – contract between the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and the MLB that sets the employment rules

Clubhouse – a team’s locker room

Designated Hitter – player who permanently bats in place of the pitcher

Double – a two-base hit

Dugout – where a team’s bench is located on the field; a depressed area slightly below field level

Extra Innings – additional innings played if the game is tied after the nine innings of regulation; extra innings are played until a team breaks the tie and that inning is complete

Field Manager – the “head coach” of the team; controls the team strategy on the field

Fielder’s Choice – when the fielder has to decide between putting the baserunner out or allowing them to advance

First Base – the base to the right of the pitcher when looking from home plate; the first base a baserunner needs to touch to score a run

First Baseman – the defensive player who fields the area closest to first base

Full Count – during an at-bat, a count of three balls and two strikes; another strike results in a strikeout, and another ball results in a walk

Hit – the act of safely reaching base after hitting the ball into fair territory

Hit by Pitch – when a pitch hits the batter in the batter’s box; automatically advances to first base

Home Plate – where the batter stands and the final base a runner must touch to score a run

Home Run – homer; a base hit where a batter is able to circle all the bases, usually done by hitting the ball into the stands or beyond

Infield – the square area within all 4 baselines

Infielder – a player stationed at one of the defensive infield positions between first and third base

Inning – a unit of play consisting of two halves; there is the top of the inning (away team bats) and the bottom of the inning (home team bats); there are nine innings in a regular-length baseball game

Knuckleball – a pitch thrown with no spin, usually with the knuckles; flutters and moves suddenly and erratically on its way to the plate

Leadoff Batter – leadoff hitter; the first batter in a team’s lineup

Left Field – part of outfield on the left of center field if looking from home plate

Left Fielder – the outfielder who plays defense in the area of left field

Line Drive – liner; a batted ball that is hit hard in the air and doesn’t have much arc

Mound – pitcher’s mound; raised section in the middle of the diamond used by the pitcher; the area where the pitcher stands

Offseason – time after the season ends and before the next one begins

On-Deck Circle – the area where the next batter waits for their at-bat

Opening Day – the first day of the regular season

Outfield – the area of the field beyond the infield and between the foul lines

Outfielder – a player in one of three defensive positions in the outfield – left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder

Pennant – also known as a flag; winning the World Series will earn you the pennant

Pop Fly – a fly ball that doesn’t travel far but does go high

Postseason – the playoffs

Rain Delay – when a game begins late due to rain or when a game is paused during gameplay due to rain

Relief Pitcher – reliever; a pitcher brought in to relieve another pitcher during a game

Save – when a relief pitcher, usually the closer, maintains the lead successfully until the end of the game; certain criteria must be met before a save is credited

Second Base – the base behind the pitcher; the second base a baserunner needs to touch to score a run

Second Baseman – the defensive player who fields the area closest to second base

Series – a set of games between two teams, typically three or four games in a row

Shortstop – the fielding position between second and third base; considered the most demanding defensive position

Single – a one-base hit

Skipper – Skip; field manager

Slider – fast pitch with a slight curve opposite to the direction of the throwing arm

Spring Training – practices and exhibition games prior to the regular season; allows the team to finalize their roster before the season begins

Strength Training – weightlifting to increase strength and power and improve speed, agility, and coordination

Strike – when a batter doesn’t hit the ball when swinging; when a batter doesn’t swing at a pitch that lands in the strike zone; when a foul ball is hit with a strike count of less than two

Strike Zone – the volume of space above home plate and between the batter’s knees and the middle of their torso; pitches that land here without the batter swinging count as a strike

Strikeout – three strikes in one plate appearance; qualifies as an out

Third Base – the base to the left of the pitcher when looking from home plate; the third base a baserunner needs to touch to score a run

Third Baseman – the defensive player who fields the area closest to third base

Three and Out – when none of the three batters in an inning make it safely to base and end up with three straight outs

Top of the Inning – the first half of an inning in which the away team bats

Triple – a three-base hit

Triple A – the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball; each team has an affiliated A, AA, and AAA team

WAG – abbreviation for wives and girlfriends; wives and girlfriends of the players

Walk-Off – when the home team immediately wins the game when they score a run in the bottom of the final inning

Walk-Up Song – the song that plays when a batter starts their at-bat; the song is chosen by the player and is used to help them before they bat

Whiff – a strike while swinging; a swing and miss

World Series – the championship in major league baseball, a best-of-seven series to determine the best of the United States and Canada