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

Ohtani’s 14th homer of the season came off reliever Jorge López, who was ejected moments later for shouting at third base umpire Ramon De Jesus over an appeal ruling on Freddie Freeman’s checked swing.

From Seattle Times • May 29, 2024

In the ninth inning with the score tied at 2 on Wednesday, Mike Trout was called out on a full-count checked swing by first base ump Will Little, stranding two.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 20, 2023

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

There’s a history this season of bad checked swing calls for the Dodgers and Giants.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2021

The Flores checked swing, in other words, gets at the question that stretches across much of innovation: Just because we could, does that mean we should?

From Washington Post • Oct. 15, 2021