warning track

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. a strip, often consisting of a cinder or dirt track, bordering the outer edge of the outfield between the outfield turf and the stadium wall that alerts outfielders that the wall is near, especially as they back up to catch a fly ball.

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Etymology

Origin of warning track

First recorded in 1965–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

warning track

This became frustratingly evident to the White Sox last season as they watched seemingly well-struck fly balls die on the warning track and grounders fail to scoot through the infield.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Tucker tracked it back to the warning track but just missed the catch as he slammed into the wall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

The next two outs were long outs, one to the warning track and one almost as far, balls that might have carried for extra-base hits on a warmer night.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

A dropped fly ball on the warning track in left field by Teoscar Hernández spelled trouble for Yamamoto, scoring a run and allowing Jo Adell to reach second base with nobody out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026

At that moment I hopped off the fence and ran as fast as I could along the warning track until I was well past the propeller, then I circled around to the passenger side.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos

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