Baseball is full of slang and terminology that might otherwise be difficult to understand. Subscribe to our Tigers emails to learn a fun new phrase every week, or revisit this page as we update.
Glove Language
Def: Our 2026 motto is "Detroit No Matter What", drawing inspiration from the city around us, the fans, and the rich history that makes us who we are.
Ex: Through it all, the Tigers are Detroit No Matter What. Win, lose, rain, shine, the city has our back, as we have theirs.
Detroit No Matter What.
Def: The pool of up to 40 players signed to a club's major league contract.
Ex: In November 2025, the Tigers added Thayron Liranzo to their 40-Man roster.
Def: A play in which the ball is thrown from third base to second base and then to first base.
Ex: Ground ball hit to Mckinstry at third, he throws to Keith at second, and onto Torkelson at first! A nice around the horn double play.
Def: The area where pitchers warm up before entering a game.
Ex: Casey Mize is in the bullpen warming up ahead of his start today.
Def: a fly ball hit to the outfield that is easily caught by a fielder.
Ex: Fly ball to center field, that's a can of corn to Matt Vierling who makes the catch with ease.
Def: When a batter starts to swing at a pitch but then stops their swing before the bat makes contact with the ball.
Ex: Here's the pitch, and Riley Greene checks his swing, it's a ball. Good job there by Greene to hold up and check his swing.
Def: The player who bats in the fourth position in the batting order, usually reserved a for a player to drive in runs with extra-base hits.
Ex: Spencer Torkelson is your Tigers cleanup hitter today, batting fourth in the lineup.
Def: a relief pitcher who specializes in getting the final outs in a close game
Ex: Closer Will Vest comes in and strikes out all 3 batters in the 9th inning, securing the win for the Tigers!
Def: a restricted, private, and often luxurious facility within a stadium that serves as the locker room, and lounge for players, coaches, and staff.
Ex: The Tigers clubhouse is an important space for the team to bond, eat meals together and discuss gameplan/strategy.
Def: another name for a home run.
Ex: Here's the 2-1 pitch to Gleyber and he swings, hammers it towards left field, it's soaring over the Tigers bullpen and that's a DINGER for Gleyber Torres! A massive home run to give the Tigers a 5-1 lead.
Def: a weighted ring that fits over the end of a baseball bat, used for warming up during a game.
Ex: Torkelson stands in the on-deck circle, warming up with the donut on the bat. That added weight helps his swing feel lighter and looser once he's in the batter's box.
Def: Minor League Baseball teams that are affiliated with a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. These teams provide a system for developing players, who can be promoted to the major leagues.
Ex: The Tigers "farm teams" include the Toledo Mud Hens, Erie SeaWolves, West Michigan Whitecaps, and Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Def: a position player who exhibits elite, above-average skills in hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, defense (glove), and throwing (arm)
Ex: Tigers legend Austin Jackson was the epitome of a five-tool player, by showcasing his hitting prowess, speed and stellar defense all over Comerica Park.
Def: a vertical pole at the intersection of the outfield fence and the foul lines that helps umpires determine if a ball is fair or foul. Additionally, any hit ball that touches the foul pole counts as a fair ball.
Ex: Parker swings and hammers it towards the right field corner, hooking towards the foul pole and...it's gone! It hits the foul pole, and the Tigers have taken the lead!
Def: A four-seam fastball is almost always the fastest and straightest pitch a pitcher throws
Ex: Flaherty winds up, throws the pitch...STRIKE THREE! Flaherty gets the swing and miss with a 94 MPH four-seam fastball
Def: a hard-hit line drive with a very straight trajectory that seems to defy gravity.
Ex: Wenceel Pérez hits a frozen rope towards right-center and it's off the wall! This should be at least a double for Wenceel.
Def: a runner automatically placed on second base at the start of an extra inning in the regular season.
Ex: McKinstry will be the Tigers Ghost runner on second base to start the bottom of the 10th, with Spencer Torkelson leading off
Def: a player known for hitting many home runs and extra-base hits.
Ex: Tork is the right guy up here for the Tigers, he's been a Heavy Hitter all season long.
Def: a hard-thrown fastball delivered high in the strike zone, making it difficult for a batter to hit
Ex: Jack Flaherty throws the high cheese and strikes out the batter, ending the inning!
Def: Slang for someone playing third base defensively
Ex: Zach McKinstry mans the hot corner today for the Tigers.
Def: A ꓘ is a term for a "strikeout looking", which means the batter was called out on a third strike without swinging at the pitch.
Ex: Troy Melton throws the 0-2 pitch ... catches him looking for strike 3! That's the second backwards K of the day for Melton who has these hitters baffled.
Def: a relief pitcher who throws left-handed and specializes in pitching to left-handed batters.
Ex: Lefty Specialist Tyler Holton has entered the game, aiming to get out these next three batters, and securing the win for the Tigers.
Def: a game where a pitcher (or pitchers) allows zero hits over at least nine innings.
Ex: In 2007, Justin Verlander threw the first no-hitter in Comerica Park history, throwing 112 pitches and striking out 12 batters to secure the 4-0 win against the Brewers.
Def: an area outlined on each side of home plate, indicating where a batter may stand while preparing to go to bat.
Ex: Meadows is the batter, with Colt Keith standing in the "On-Deck Circle" due up to bat next.
Def: a home run that is hit to the opposite field. (I.E. A left handed hitter hitting to left field)
Ex: Riley Greene sends it over the left field wall, an "oppo taco" for Riley.
Def: A situation where a baserunner is caught between two bases and faces an imminent tag from the defense.
Ex: The Giants baserunner strayed too far off first and quickly found himself in a pickle. Tork throws to Javy, back to Tork who gets the tag and the runner is out.
Def: A pitching coach instructs their pitchers on strategy, while also providing insight into the weaknesses of opposing hitters.
Ex: Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter works with the pitching staff day in and day out on scouting reports, game plan and in game adjustments.
Def: A pitcher who enters the game in place of the previous pitcher.
Ex: RP Tommy Kahnle came in and struck out 3 opposing hitters in the 7th inning, helping lead the Tigers to a huge win!
Def: A player on second or third base that is in position to score a run.
Ex: The Tigers have two Runners in Scoring Position! It's a great time to add some runs. A Base hit should score two, here.
Def: a bag filled with rosin; used by baseball pitchers to improve their grip on the ball.
Ex: Skubal steps off the mound and grabs the rosin bag a couple times. That should help him control his change-up even greater.
Def: A sacrifice bunt occurs when a player successfully advances a runner(s) at least one base with a bunt. In this vein, the batter is sacrificing himself (giving up an out) in order to move another runner closer to scoring.
Ex: Zach McKinstry squares around to bunt, and he gets it down! Parker Meadows advances to 2nd base safely, and McKinstry has himself a successful sacrifice bunt.
Def: A fielder's ability to minimize glove movement and absorb the ball's energy upon impact, creating a smooth, controlled catch.
Ex: Hard hit ball to Javy, he picks it clean with soft hands, and makes the throw to first, two outs here in the third inning.
Def: the preseason period in February and March, when teams prepare for the upcoming season. Half of MLB teams have Spring Training in the Grapefruit League in Florida, while the other half are in the Cactus League in Arizona.
Ex: The Tigers host Spring Training in Lakeland, Florida where they practice, work out, and play exhibition games among the other 14 Grapefruit League teams.
Def: a player who bats from both the left and right sides of the plate
Ex: Switch-Hitter Wenceel Pérez leads off the 8th inning batting right-handed, after batting left-handed earlier in the game.
Def: slang for a double play, where the defensive team gets two outs in a single continuous play.
Ex: Ground ball to Javy at short, the flip to Torres, throw to 1st, double play! The Tigers turn two and end the inning.
Def: A baseball metric that measures a player's value in all facets of the game, deciphering how many more wins he's worth then their position's league average.
Ex: Tarik Skubal led the Tigers in WAR in 2025 at 6.6. This means he was worth roughly 6.6 more wins to the Tigers than the average MLB starting pitcher.
Def: A song by GMac Cash that is played after every Detroit Tigers win.
Ex: Every time the Tigers win, it's time to play the song! Turn on "YKTTWA" (You Know the Tigers Won Again) by GMac Cash for a good time.
