pinch hitter

noun

1. Baseball.,  a substitute who bats for a teammate, often at a critical moment of the game.

2. any substitute for another, especially in an emergency.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinch hitter¹

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Idioms and Phrases

A substitute for another person, especially in an emergency. For example, Pat expected her mother to help with the baby, but just in case, she lined up her mother-in-law as pinch hitter. This expression comes from baseball, where it is used for a player substituting for another at bat at a critical point or in a tight situation (called a pinch since the late 1400s). [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Six months after his last at-bat — he struck out as a pinch hitter in the final week of the 1986 season — Russell was back in uniform as the team’s bench coach.

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Miguel Rojas, an infielder, was deployed as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning and remained in the game at shortstop.

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And in true fashion, Angels World Series MVP Troy Glaus made a surprise cameo as a pinch hitter.

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“Like a pinch hitter or an assassin, he comes in and just perfectly executes the assignment of every scene.”

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He fanned pinch hitter Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay’s top minor league prospect, to end his outing with five strikeouts and no walks.

Read more on Washington Times

Related Words

• backup 
• designated hitter 
• replacement