pinch hitter

American  

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.

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pinch hitter Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of pinch hitter

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pinch hitter

In the bottom half of the inning, Max Muncy entered the game as a pinch hitter and delivered a go-ahead three-run home run.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

He celebrated his 28th birthday on Friday by entering in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter and banging a game-tying single on his first-ever postseason swing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2025

He gave up a single to pinch hitter Jacob Stinson and a walk to Wade Hadeen.

From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2024

With the Dodgers behind, 4-2, pinch hitter Kolten Wong drew a leadoff walk against right-hander Kevin Ginkel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2023

I know that Gramps can’t be that late-inning pinch hitter I’d hoped for.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

Related Words

• backup
• designated hitter
• replacement