pinch hitter

noun

: one that pinch-hits

Synonyms

• backup
• cover
• designated hitter
• fill-in
• locum tenens
• relief
• replacement
• reserve
• stand-in
• sub
• substitute

Examples of pinch hitter in a Sentence

the business owners brought in a pinch hitter until a permanent manager could be hired

Recent Examples on the Web

All nine starters plus Max Kepler, who entered late as a pinch hitter, drove in at least one run in the win. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 12 June 2024

Over Kansas City’s last five games, he’s played both right and left field, second base and entered as a pinch hitter. —Kevin Flaherty, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2024

The win wasn’t to be, however, as Scott Alexander, pitching the eighth, gave up a sacrifice fly to pinch hitter Davis Schneider to tie the score 3-3. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 9 June 2024

Held scoreless through six innings, the A’s scored their runs in the seventh through 11th and literally walked it off when pinch hitter Tyler Soderstrom took four straight pitches out of the strike zone from reliever Peter Lambert with the bases loaded and two out. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pinch hitter

noun

1

: a baseball player sent in to bat for another especially when a hit is needed

2

: a person called upon to do another's work in an emergency

pinch-hit

(ˈ)pinch-ˈhit

verb