fielder's choice

American

noun

Baseball.

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

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See Examples For:

fielder's choice

Then, Carroll grounded into a fielder’s choice in front of the plate and reached first safely, with an errant throw by Rushing allowing Perdomo to reach third.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2025

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 ● Oct. 1, 2025

Betts scored after a fielder’s choice groundout to shortstop, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

From Seattle Times ● May 17, 2024

Ken sent him to third on a fielder's choice.

From The Young Pitcher by Grey, Zane

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023