Personnel
(Personal)
(Personal)
A sports performance professional who designs strength, conditioning, and agility programs specifically tailored to the physical demands of baseball players.
Trainer
A hard protective head covering with ear flaps worn by hitters.
A batting helmet
Thrown with the arm speed of a fastball but much slower to ruin batter timing.
Changeup
When a baserunner tries to run to the next base without the ball being hit, but a fielder tags them out before they get there safely.
Caught stealing
The first player in a team's batting order who bats at the start of the game.
Lead-off hitter
The official on the field who enforces the rules, makes judgment calls on plays, and keeps order.
Umpire
A heavily padded, round mitt with connected fingers built to catch fast pitches.
A catcher's mitt
The fastest pitch. It travels straight with high backspin.
(Four seam) Fastball
A baseball move where a team has a runner on third base. The batter bunts the ball softly so the runner can run home and score.
Squeeze play
A player who enters a baseball game to replace the starting pitcher.
Reliever
Directs overall team strategy, game-day lineups, and player substitutions.
Manager
Special shoes with rubber or metal spikes for grass and dirt traction.
Cleats, spikes
Harder and faster than a curveball. It breaks sideways and away from hitters.
Slider
An illegal act by an offensive player, coach, fan, or umpire that blocks a defensive player from making a play on the ball.
Interference
A substitute player sent into a game specifically to take the place of a runner currently on base.
Pinch-runner
Analyzes hitters' mechanics and prepares offensive strategies.
Hitting coach
A padded vest that shields the torso.
Chest protector
Thrown with fingertips, causing almost no spin and erratic, unpredictable floating movement.
Knuckleball
When a base runner stands on their base and touches it while an outfielder catches a fly ball in the air. Once the fielder touches the ball, the runner legally runs to the next base to try and advance.
Tag up and run
A defensive baseball player who positions themselves in the dirt infield between second base and third base.
Short stop
Guides and trains the pitchers and coordinates pitching changes.
Pitching coach
Hard guards that protect the lower legs and knees.
Shin guards
A slow pitch with a large, sharp downward break.
Curveball
A bad throw by the pitcher that is too high, too wide, or bounces in the dirt.
A wild pitch
A defensive baseball player who plays in the grass area far from home plate.
Outfielder