Glossary of baseball (P) facts for kids
Baseball is a sport full of unique words and phrases! This guide will help you understand some of the special terms used in baseball, especially those starting with the letter "P". Learning these words will make watching and talking about baseball even more fun.
Baseball Terms Starting with P
Pitching and Hitting Terms
Painting the Corners
When a pitcher throws a pitch right on the edge of the strike zone, it's called "painting." It means they are very accurate, hitting the "black" line of the plate or the "corner" of the zone. This makes it hard for the batter to hit.
Pasting the Ball
If a batter "pastes the ball," it means they hit it very hard and with a lot of power.
Patient Hitter
A "patient hitter" is a batter who waits for the perfect pitch to swing at. They don't swing at the first pitch or at balls outside the strike zone. Because they are so careful, they often get a lot of walks.
Payoff Pitch
This is a very important pitch thrown when the count is "full" (three balls and two strikes). It's called a "payoff pitch" because it will either be a strikeout for the pitcher or a hit or walk for the batter. It's a big moment in the at-bat.
Pea
A "pea" is a baseball thrown at a very high speed. It's like saying the ball is flying like a small, fast object.
Pearl
A "pearl" is a brand new baseball that has been rubbed with special mud. This mud makes the ball less bright white and gives it a pearl-like color, making it easier for pitchers to grip.
Pearod
A "pearod" is a baseball hit very hard and straight back towards the pitcher.
Peeking
When a batter tries to secretly look at the catcher's signals to the pitcher, it's called "peeking." This is against the rules!
Peg
To "peg" the ball means to throw it hard and accurately to one of the bases. For example, a fielder might "peg the ball to first base."
Pen
"Pen" is a short way to say bullpen. This is where relief pitchers warm up before they enter the game.
Perfect Game
A "perfect game" is a super rare and amazing achievement for a pitcher. It's a type of no-hitter where no batter from the other team reaches base for the entire game. This means no hits, no walks, and no errors – "27 up, 27 down!"
Perfect Inning
A "perfect inning" is when a pitcher faces three batters and gets all three out without any of them reaching base.
Pick it Clean
To "pick it clean" means a fielder catches a hard-hit ground ball smoothly without fumbling or bobbling it.
Pick Up the Pitch
This refers to a batter's skill in figuring out what kind of pitch the pitcher is throwing very quickly.
Pickle
A "pickle" is another name for a rundown. This happens when a baserunner is caught between two fielders who are throwing the ball back and forth to try and tag them out.
Pickoff
A "pickoff" is a quick throw by the pitcher (or sometimes the catcher) to a fielder at a base to try and tag out a baserunner who has gone too far from the base.
Pill
"Pill" is a slang term for the baseball itself.
Pimping
"Pimping" refers to a batter showing off after hitting a great hit, like watching a home run fly instead of immediately running the bases.
Pinch Hitter
A "pinch hitter" is a substitute batter who comes into the game to bat in a key situation, often when the team needs a hit badly.
Pinch Runner
A "pinch runner" is a substitute baserunner who comes into the game to run for another player, usually because they are faster.
Pine
"Pine" refers to pine tar, a sticky substance that batters can put on their bats to get a better grip.
Pinpoint Control
A pitcher with "pinpoint control" can throw the baseball exactly where they want it in the strike zone, making it very hard for batters to guess.
Pitch Around
To "pitch around" a batter means the pitcher throws balls outside the strike zone on purpose, hoping the batter will swing at a bad pitch or that they will walk them.
Pitch Count
The "pitch count" is the total number of pitches a pitcher has thrown in a game so far. Coaches watch this closely to protect a pitcher's arm.
Pitch to Contact
A pitcher who "pitches to contact" tries to get batters to hit the ball weakly, especially on the ground, instead of trying to strike them out every time.
Pitcher's Best Friend
This is a nickname for a double play. It's a pitcher's "best friend" because it gets two outs with just one play, helping them get out of tough situations.
Pitchers' Duel
A "pitchers' duel" is a game where both starting pitchers are playing incredibly well, allowing very few hits or runs. These games are usually low-scoring and exciting.
Pitcher's Pitch
This is a pitch that the pitcher wants the batter to hit because they know it will most likely result in an out.
Pitching from Behind
When a pitcher often falls behind in the count (meaning they have more balls than strikes), they are "pitching from behind." This puts them at a disadvantage.
Pitchout
A "pitchout" is a special pitch thrown far outside the strike zone on purpose. The catcher stands up to catch it quickly, ready to throw to a base to try and catch a baserunner stealing.
Place Hitter
A "place hitter" is a batter who is skilled at hitting the ball to a specific part of the field, not just hitting it hard.
Plate
"Plate" usually refers to home plate, which is where the batter stands. As a verb, to "plate" means to score a run.
Plate Appearance
Any time a batter comes up to bat, it's called a "plate appearance." This includes times they get a hit, a walk, or even strike out.
Plate Discipline
A batter shows "plate discipline" when they are careful not to swing at pitches outside the strike zone or at pitches they can't hit well.
Platinum Sombrero
A "platinum sombrero" is a funny term for when a batter strikes out five times in a single game. It's also called "Olympic Rings."
Platoon
"Platooning" is when a team uses two different players for the same position, usually one who hits well against left-handed pitchers and another who hits well against right-handed pitchers.
Platter
"Platter" is another slang term for home plate.
Play
- A "play" is any short action during a game, like a fielder catching a ball or a runner trying to advance.
- It also refers to where the main action is happening, like "a play at home" when a runner is trying to score.
Play by the Book
To "play by the book" means to follow the common and traditional strategies in baseball, like when to use a sacrifice bunt or when to bring in the closer.
Player to Be Named Later
When teams make a trade, sometimes part of the deal is a "player to be named later." This means a specific player will be sent to the other team at a later time, or sometimes it's just a financial payment.
Players' Manager
A "players' manager" is a coach who is very close to their players, often seen as a friend. While this can build good team spirit, some say it can make it hard for them to make tough decisions.
Playing Back
When infielders are "playing back," they are standing in their normal, deeper positions on the field, not expecting a bunt or a double play.
Playing In
When the infield is "playing in," the infielders stand closer to home plate than usual. They do this to try and throw out a runner at home plate on a ground ball, but it also means they cover less ground.
Playoffs
The "playoffs" are all the important games played after the regular 162-game season. This includes the Division Series, Championship Series, and the World Series, where teams compete for the championship. It's also called the "post-season."
Plunked
To be "plunked" means a batter was hit by a pitch.
Plus Pitch
A "plus pitch" is a pitch that is better than average compared to other pitches in the league. It's often a pitch that gets a lot of strikeouts.
Plus Plus Pitch
A "plus plus pitch" is an amazing pitch that is among the very best of its kind in the entire league. It's almost impossible to hit when thrown well.
Plus Player
A "plus player" is a player who has skills that are better than average for a major league player.
Poke
A "poke" is a hit, especially one that goes for extra bases or a home run.
Pop
- A batter with "pop" has a lot of power and can hit the ball very hard.
- A "pop-up" is a batted ball that goes very high into the air and stays in the infield. If it goes into foul territory, it's a "pop-foul."
Portsider
A "portsider" is another name for a left-handed pitcher. It comes from sailing, where "port" means the left side of a ship.
Position
- A "position" is one of the nine defensive roles on a baseball team, like pitcher, catcher, first baseman, etc.
- It also means where a fielder stands on the field, which can change depending on the game situation.
Position Player
A "position player" is any defensive player on the team except for the pitcher.
Pound the Batter Inside
To "pound the batter inside" means the pitcher throws the ball over the inside part of home plate, close to the batter's body, usually with a fastball.
Powder River
"Powder river" is a colorful term for a fastball thrown with extreme speed.
Power Alleys
The "power alleys" are the areas in the outfield between the outfielders, specifically left-center field and right-center field. These are common spots for extra-base hits.
Power Hitter
A "power hitter" is a strong batter who hits many home runs and extra-base hits. They might not have a super high batting average, but they hit for a lot of power.
Power Outage
When a batter who usually hits with a lot of power suddenly stops hitting for power, they are having a "power outage."
Power Pitcher
A "power pitcher" is a pitcher who mostly relies on throwing a very fast fastball to get outs.
Power Stroke
A batter with a good "power stroke" is someone who can consistently hit the ball for extra bases.
Power Surge
When a batter who doesn't usually hit for much power suddenly starts hitting many extra-base hits, they are having a "power surge."
Pow Wow
A "pow wow" is a meeting on the pitcher's mound between the pitcher, catcher, and a coach to talk about strategy.
Probable Pitcher
A "probable pitcher" is the pitcher who is expected to start the next game for a team.
Productive Out
A "productive out" is when a batter makes an out but still helps the team by moving one or more runners closer to home plate. For example, hitting a fly ball that allows a runner to tag up and advance.
Protested Game
A manager can "protest a game" if they believe an umpire made a decision that goes against the official rules of baseball. However, they cannot protest an umpire's judgment call, like whether a pitch was a strike or a ball.
Public Enemy Number One
This term can refer to a very good curveball pitch, or to a player who is hitting exceptionally well and is a big threat to the opposing team.
Pull the Ball
To "pull the ball" means a batter hits the ball towards the side of the field they usually swing towards. A right-handed batter pulls it to left field, and a left-handed batter pulls it to right field.
Pull a Hitter/Pitcher
To "pull a hitter" means to replace a batter with a pinch hitter. To "pull a pitcher" means to take a pitcher out of the game and bring in a relief pitcher.
Pulled the String
A pitcher has "pulled the string" if they throw a pitch that looks fast but then slows down or breaks sharply, making the batter swing too early.
Punch and Judy Hitter
A "Punch and Judy hitter" is a batter who hits with very little power, usually hitting singles or ground balls.
Punch Out
A "punch out" is a strikeout. It's named after the umpire's arm motion, which looks like a punch, when calling a third strike.
Purpose Pitch
A "purpose pitch" is a pitch thrown intentionally close to the batter to make them move away from home plate. It's meant to send a message or make the batter uncomfortable.
Push
- A right-handed batter who "pushes" the ball hits it towards right field.
- A "push bunt" is a type of bunt where the batter pushes the ball past the pitcher and first baseman.
Put a Charge on the Ball
To "put a charge on the ball" means to hit the baseball very hard, usually resulting in a home run.
Put Away
