checked swing

American  

[chekt swing] / ˈtʃɛkt ˌswɪŋ /

Also check swing

noun

Baseball.

1. a swing of the bat in which the batter holds back just after starting to swing, thereby avoiding swinging into a strike.

   It looked like a checked swing to me, but the umpire called him out, saying he swung for the third strike.

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Etymology

Origin of checked swing

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; originally as half-checked swing

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

checked swing

Trayce Thompson strained his oblique on a checked swing Saturday and will likely go on the injured list, according to Roberts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2023

Ryan Brasier retired three straight batters for his first save since June 17, 2019, ending a 4-hour game by getting Aaron Hicks on a full-count checked swing strikeout called by third base umpire Jim Reynolds.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 15, 2022

Zach Jackson struck out Santander on a checked swing with a runner at first for his first big league save.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2022

But Adam Duvall popped out to first, and Travis d’Arnaud was unable to stop his bat on a 2-2 pitch, striking out on a checked swing.

From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2021

Purists on Thursday night were quick to remind that the checked swing is determined not by where the bat ends but a more subjective “attempt to strike at the ball.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2021