pinch hitter

noun

1. Baseball. a substitute who bats for a teammate, often at a critical moment of the game.
2. any substitute for another, especially in an emergency.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinch hitter¹

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Idioms and Phrases

A substitute for another person, especially in an emergency. For example, Pat expected her mother to help with the baby, but just in case, she lined up her mother-in-law as pinch hitter . This expression comes from baseball, where it is used for a player substituting for another at bat at a critical point or in a tight situation (called a pinch since the late 1400s). [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

He fanned pinch hitter Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay’s top minor league prospect, to end his outing with five strikeouts and no walks.

From Washington Times

Díaz didn’t play Sunday after appearing as a pinch hitter the previous day and finished with a .330 average to become Tampa Bay’s first batting champion.

From Seattle Times

He’d also watched as his team, hitless with runners in scoring position, continued that trend with pinch hitters Mike Ford and Josh Rojas failing to even move the runners and at least tie the game.

From Seattle Times

Diamondbacks: OF Corbin Carroll was replaced by a pinch hitter in the fifth after being hit on the wrist by a pitch the previous inning.

From Washington Times

Harper has been a DH and pinch hitter since his return on May 2.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• backup
• designated hitter
• replacement