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 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 For his first career strikeout, Senga fanned Yuli Gurriel on a forkball that caused Gurriel to flail so badly at that the bat flew out of his hands and into foul territory past third base. James Wagner, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2023 Hoping to strikeout the Marlins leadoff hitter Luis Arraez, Senga threw the forkball with two strikes. James Wagner, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2023 Martinez was referring to Kodai Senga of Japan and his forkball, which is nicknamed the ghost fork. Gary Phillips, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2023 And there is interest in Japanese import Kodai Senga, who like deGrom throws in the upper 90s, but also has a devastating forkball. Dallas News, 1 Dec. 2022 Porter is famous because his forkball killed a dove in mid-air in the middle of a game. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 30 June 2021 Hirano said part of that progression has been with his signature forkball. Nick Piecoro, azcentral, 15 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forkball.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forkball was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near forkball

Cite this Entry

“Forkball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forkball. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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