breaking ball

[ brey-king bawl ]

noun

, Baseball.

1. any pitch in which the ball deviates from a straight path as it approaches the batter:

   If you’re not sure if it was a slider or a curve, just say it was a breaking ball.

Word History and Origins

Origin of breaking ball¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

But unlike their battle the previous night, this breaking ball was not off the plate, but rather knee high and over the inner half.

From Los Angeles Times

Servais wants Hancock to continue to develop his breaking ball, which they are trying to make more like a slider with more break.

From Seattle Times

He has good life on his low 90’s fastball, and advanced feel for locating his breaking ball and changeup.

From Seattle Times

Marte said he was looking for a good pitch to hit and found it on a breaking ball down the middle.

From Los Angeles Times

A former starter and a lefty with a good breaking ball, which is something worse than kryptonite to Mariners hitters, Heaney pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing five hits not a walk and two strikeouts.

From Seattle Times