leadoff

[leed-awf, -of]

noun

1. an act that starts something; start; beginning.

2. Baseball.,  the player who is first in the batting order or who is first to bat for a team in an inning.

Word History and Origins

Origin of leadoff¹

First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase lead off

Example Sentences

Treinen couldn’t, giving up a leadoff single and back-to-back doubles to J.T.

From Los Angeles Times

The offense, meanwhile, chipped away at veteran Reds right-hander Zack Littell, stressing him with constant early traffic before eventually breaking through in the third, when Ben Rortvedt sliced a leadoff double down the left-field line and Mookie Betts scored him with an RBI single.

From Los Angeles Times

The Diamondbacks’ Jorge Barros tied it 4-4 with a sacrifice fly before Perdomo’s two-out heroics off Scott, who hit the leadoff batter, issued a walk and gave up a sacrifice bunt to set up Arizona’s comeback.

From Los Angeles Times

Klein struck out the side on Saturday and gave up a leadoff double in a scoreless inning on Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times

In the eighth, he clobbered a leadoff home run deep to right field for his 50th long ball of the season, making him just the sixth player in MLB history with consecutive 50-homer campaigns.

From Los Angeles Times