cut fastball

noun

baseball
: a fastball thrown with sideways spin so that it moves laterally as it nears the plate
… his best pitches are a baffling splitter and a cut fastball that bores in on right-handed hitters.Rob Neyer

called also cutter

Examples of cut fastball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Working with the Dodgers’ analysts and coaches, Kopech has been throwing a cut fastball rather than a slider to complement his triple-digit fastball. Phil Rogers, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Facing right-hander Reed Garrett in the fifth, Pages drove a 1-and-1 cut fastball on the inner half of the plate 376 feet for a three-run homer, cutting the Mets’ lead to 10-5. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024 Weaver changed his approach during the season, eliminating his slider and curve to utilize a cut fastball more. Chuck Murr, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 Buehler minimized damage by striking out Brendan Rodgers and Sam Hilliard swinging at 92-mph cut fastballs with runners on second and third. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024 Advertisement But Pages fought off an inside cut fastball and fisted his fourth single of the night, his game-winner traveling all of 205 feet with an exit velocity of 63.4 mph but perfectly placed to spark a wild celebration with teammates in the infield. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024 Leaning mostly on a four-seamer that averaged 95.2 mph, an 81-mph curve and an 86-mph cut fastball, Paxton went 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA over nine starts in June and July, striking out 53 and walking 13 in 51 innings and yielding a .203 average and a .589 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Yamamoto also threw a cut fastball, a curveball and a split-finger pitch. Doug Padilla, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2024 Last year opposing batters hit .203 against his cut fastball and .119 against the slider. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cut fastball was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near cut fastball

Cite this Entry

“Cut fastball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cut%20fastball. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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