leadoff

American  

[leed-awf, -of] / ˈlidˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of leadoff

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

Example Sentences

Then in the quarterfinal game against Venezuela last Saturday, he surrendered a leadoff homer to Ronald Acuña Jr. and a second-inning RBI double to Gleyber Torres before settling in for two scoreless innings.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

By way of example from another sportsbook, Caesars Sports offered these World Series prop bets for Ohtani: Would he hit a leadoff home run?

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

His first-inning leadoff home run that followed three first-inning strikeouts?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2025

There’s also an argument that the Jays erred in not sacrificing in the eighth inning with Ernie Clement on second after another leadoff double.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

I’m always pumped before the first pitch of a game, especially when I’m batting leadoff and especially when it’s the first game of a doubleheader.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner