switch hitter
noun
a batter who can bat both right-handed and left-handed and so is able to bat from either side of home plate.
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switch hitter
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switch-hitter
switch-hitternounbaseball a batsman who can hit either right- or left-handed
switch hitter
American
[swich hit-er]
/ ˈswɪtʃ ˈhɪt ər /
Or
switch-hitter
noun
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Baseball. a batter who can bat both right-handed and left-handed and so is able to bat from either side of home plate.
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Slang. a bisexual person.
switch-hitter
British
noun
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baseball a batsman who can hit either right- or left-handed
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slang a bisexual person
Etymology
Origin of switch hitter
First recorded in 1925–30 switch hitter for def. 1, and in 1965–70 switch hitter for def. 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
His son, meanwhile, was a switch hitter who could throw a bullet from shortstop to first.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
The two-run homer he surrendered to Diamondbacks switch hitter Ketel Marte in the first inning was the ninth home run he has given up in three starts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Rutschman displayed his power from both sides of the plate as a switch hitter, swatting a combined 27 homers in his first-round matchup on Monday night.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 10, 2023
Rutschman, it should be noted, is a switch hitter but has been notably more productive from the left side.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 19, 2023
Sam Haggerty, a switch hitter with speed, became a fan favorite because of his ability to do a little bit of everything.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2023
As a switch-hitter, Freeland has had more success from the left side than the right.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 4, 2026
The switch-hitter pulled an 0-1 pitch far beyond the left-field wall and grinned at Schallock as he rounded the bases.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2024
A switch-hitter, he finished his career with a .236 batting average and .616 OPS.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2024
Tommy Edman, a switch-hitter, batted from the right side against right-hander Luke Weaver.
From Washington Times ● May 25, 2023
He touched 100 with his fastball and had Lindor, a switch-hitter batting lefty, chasing on back-t0-back splitters low and away.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 26, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
