warning track

American  

noun

Baseball.

1. a strip, often consisting of a cinder or dirt track, bordering the outer edge of the outfield between the outfield turf and the stadium wall that alerts outfielders that the wall is near, especially as they back up to catch a fly ball.

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Etymology

Origin of warning track

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

And while he came up to lead off the ninth, he watched a towering fly ball die at the warning track.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2025

Then he had a 3-2 count with Moises Razo and got a fly out to the warning track.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2025

Later in the inning, Teoscar Hernández doubled and Muncy walked to put two aboard … only for Andy Pages to hit a deep fly ball that died at the warning track in left.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2025

Michael Conforto helped double the lead in the third, smashing an RBI double off the wall two at-bats before Tommy Edman lifted a near-grand slam to the warning track in center for a sacrifice fly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2025

At that moment I hopped off the fence and ran as fast as I could along the warning track until I was well past the propeller, then I circled around to the passenger side.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos