fielder's choice

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. a fielder's attempt to put out a base runner rather than the batter when a play at first base would put out the batter.

---

Etymology

Origin of fielder's choice

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

The Dodgers tacked on two more insurance runs in the eighth, the last scoring when Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice.

From Los Angeles Times

And, after George Springer grounded into a fielder’s choice, brought Roberts trudging back out to the mound.

From Los Angeles Times

Milwaukee loaded the bases after that but Joey Ortiz grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

From Barron's

The Dodgers’ rally had been built around a double that should have been a single, a run-scoring fielder’s choice that barely passed the mound, a walk and Smith’s one-hop single to left, the hardest-hit ball of the inning.

From Los Angeles Times

He didn’t give up a run until Elly De La Cruz’s fielder’s choice grounder with two out in the inning.

From Los Angeles Times