forkball

noun

fork·​ball ˈfȯrk-ˌbȯl How to pronounce forkball (audio)
: a baseball pitch in which the ball is gripped between the forked index and middle fingers

Examples of forkball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the past two seasons, how has Reynolds fared against splitters and forkballs from right-handers? Tim Britton, New York Times, 14 May 2025 Pitchers who rely too much on splitters or splitter-equivalents, like Kodai Senga’s forkball, often get hurt. Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Armed with a sinker, splitter/forkball, curve, sweeper and cutter, Leiter Jr. also had a 4.21 ERA over 39 games before Tuesday’s game. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 30 July 2024 Senga, 31, retired the first seven batters Sunday and faced the minimum through three innings, using a pitch mix that included a mid-90s fastball, a cutter, a sweeper, a slider and his signature forkball. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 July 2024 Right-hander Luis Severino has become the ace of the staff, but the Mets could use Senga’s hard fastball and devastating forkball. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 May 2024 Only 9 pitchers met the total pitch and batted ball requirements to get a grade, and that includes the Mets’ Kodai Senga’s forkball, whose offering fits here best. Tony Blengino, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Overall, the best 2023 splitter-type pitches were two very different offerings - Senga’s soft, low-spin/movement forkball and Gausman’s hard, high-spin/vertical movement splitter. Tony Blengino, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Senga’s forkball was the best non-fastball thrown by any pitcher in 2023. Tony Blengino, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forkball was in 1936

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Cite this Entry

“Forkball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forkball. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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