split-fingered fastball

[ split-fing-gerd fast-bawl ]

noun

, Baseball.

1. a pitch, similar to the forkball but thrown with the same arm speed as a fastball, that drops suddenly as it nears the batter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of split-fingered fastball¹

First recorded in 1975–80; split ( def ) (in the sense “parted lengthwise”) + fingered ( def ) + fastball ( def )

Example Sentences

Entering this season, one of the few pitch types Freeman hit unevenly, from a runs-created standpoint, was the split-fingered fastball.

From FiveThirtyEight