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

Because somehow, after all that, after Báez was booed when he stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter earlier in the afternoon, he was the man running from first base when Marlins left fielder Jorge Alfaro bobbled Michael Conforto’s double.

From Washington Post

Despite it being his scheduled day off, Ohtani entered the game as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and Los Angeles trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

From FiveThirtyEight

Manager Dave Martinez didn’t swap Robles out for Soto or another pinch hitter because he had already burned Andrew Stevenson, his last available outfielder, in a double-switch before the top of the eighth.

From Washington Post

Since then, Kieboom has pinch-hit twice and García has been a pinch hitter, pinch runner and starting second baseman, appearing in all three games.

From Washington Post

Shallots don’t last as long as regular storage onions, meaning if you happen to come into a windfall, consider using them sooner rather than later, including as a pinch hitter.

From Washington Post

A pinch hitter named Pickle Smith was announced for Jacksonville.

From The Daily Beast

With the score five to seven against them, Roxley put in a pinch hitter by the name of Bixby.

From Project Gutenberg

A pinch hitter was up next, and amid a breathless silence he was watched.

From Project Gutenberg

McRae was no longer content to use Joe simply as a pinch hitter.

From Project Gutenberg

No clubs would be clamoring for his services as a pinch hitter.

From Project Gutenberg

Don't be afraid to put me in as a pinch hitter for this organization.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• backup
• designated hitter
• replacement