relief pitcher

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. a pitcher brought into a game to replace another pitcher, often in a critical situation.

2. a pitcher regularly so used, as opposed to one who regularly starts games.

---

relief pitcher British  

noun

1. Also called: reliever.  baseball a pitcher who replaces a side's main pitcher during a game

---

Etymology

Origin of relief pitcher

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

relief pitcher

Former Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly, a Corona graduate, is joining the program as an assistant coach to help guide pitchers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

U.S. relief pitcher Griffin Jax, a captain in the Air Force Reserve, missed much of two minor league seasons while on active duty at Cape Canaveral.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026

Or, if that metaphor doesn’t appeal to you, how about a late-inning relief pitcher warming up in the bullpen?

From Salon ● Jan. 2, 2026

Crawford led off the bottom of the 15th inning with a single before Detroit relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025

Occasionally Joe went in as relief pitcher, when the game was safe in the "ice box," but the chance he wanted was to pitch against the New Yorks at St. Louis.

From Baseball Joe in the Big League or, A Young Pitcher's Hardest Struggles by Chadwick, Lester

Related Words

• bullpen
• reliever
• stopper