Alley (or ‘gap’): The section of the outfield between the outfielders.

Back hand: When an infielder fields a ground ball to the side instead of out in front of his body.

Baltimore Chop: A ball that bounces on or near home plate and takes a large hop over the infielder’s head.

Base coach: Each team has a first and third-base coach. On most fields, a box is painted on the grass for each coach to stand in.

Batter’s box: Either of the areas next to home plate where the batter stands during his at-bat.

Batting average: A player’s total hits divided by at-bats.

Balk: When a pitcher interrupts his pitching motion and one or more runners are on base, each runner gets to advance one base.

Backstop: Wall or fence behind home plate.

Brushback: A pitch intended to back a hitter off the plate; not intended to hit the batter.

Bullpen: An area for pitchers to warm up.

Bunt: A hitter doesn’t take a full swing and shortens up on the bat to either advance a runner from one base to the next or try and bunt his way safely on base with a clean, bunt base hit.

Catcher: The player who catches each pitch. The catcher works from behind home plate in a crouch and is protected by catching equipment which includes helmet, shin guards, throat protector and chest protector.

Center fielder: Normally you’re outfielder with the most range will play centerfield because of the vast ground needed to cover.

Cleanup hitter: The 4^th hitter in the batting order; usually the best power threat on the team bats fourth.

Complete game: When a pitcher starts and finishes the same game.

Cycle: When a player gets a single, double, triple and homerun in the same game, he has hit for the cycle.

Decision: The pitcher of record receives either a win or loss.

Designated hitter: A player who bats for the pitcher and does not play in the field.

Double: A hitter reaches second base safely with a clean, two-base hit.

Doubleheader: Two games played consecutively by the same two teams. A twi-night doubleheader is when an early afternoon game is played and then the teams break and play game two at night.

Double play: Getting two outs on one fly ball or ground out.

Dugout: The seated area for each team; located on both the first and third-base lines.

Earned run average: A pitcher’s earned runs allowed, multiplied by nine and divided by innings pitched.

First baseman: One of the positions on the right side of the infield. The first baseman’s main job is to catch throws from infielders and ground balls.

Foul ball: A ball that lands out of the field of play.

Ground-rule double: When a batted ball, which it first hits in fair territory, bounces over the outfield wall or over the walls down the baselines.

HBP – Hit-by-pitch: The batter is awarded first base.

Hit and Run: A runner steals and the hitter tries to hit the ball no matter where it’s pitched.

Homerun: A hitter either a) clears the outfield wall with a hit and can circle the bases without fear of being put out; or b) reaches home plate safely with a clean, four-base hit, called an “inside-the-park” homerun.

Infield fly: When there are runners on 1^st and 2^nd or the bases are loaded with less than two outs, a fly ball hit in the infield results in the batter being automatically out. The runners can advance on their own but the batter is declared out.

Left fielder: One of the corner outfield positions. The left fielder has to field fly balls and have knowledge of the gaps (the spots in between the outfield positions) and know which infielder to throw to.

No-hitter: When a pitcher throws a complete game and doesn’t allow the opposing team to get a hit.

Passed ball: A pitch that the catcher misses and allows runners to advance.

Perfect game: When a pitcher throws a complete game and doesn’t allow the opposing team to reach base safely.

Pinch-hitter/Pinch-hitting: A pinch-hitter takes the place of a starter for an at-bat. The pinch-hitter can stay in the game if he’s put at a position and takes the place of another fielder but the hitter who was taken out of the game for the pinch-hitter can’t return.

Pinch-runner: When a player enters the game to run for another player. When a player is pinch-run for, he cannot return to the game.

Pitcher: The player responsible for delivering each pitch for the defensive team. The pitcher works from a pitching mound and fields his position like the other seven fielders behind him.

Relief pitcher: Any pitcher who does not start the game.

Right fielder: The right corner outfield spot. Right fielders tend to have the strongest arm and, like left field, the position is sometimes viewed as a more offensive position than defensive.

Run batted in: Any time a player drives in run with either a hit, ground out, sacrifice fly, is hit with a pitch or walks with the bases loaded, he receives an RBI.

Sacrifice: With a bunt, the hitter “sacrifices” his at-bat and gives up an out to advance a runner.

Sacrifice Fly: When a hitter is out on a fly ball but the runner from third advances home to score a run. The runner can only leave after the ball has been caught.

Save: When a pitcher comes in and finishes a game his team was leading by three runs or less.

Scoring position: When a runner is either at second or third base, he is in scoring position.

Second baseman: The right side infield position. Besides fielding ground balls, the second baseman can also be responsible for turning double plays and receiving throws from outfielders.

Shortstop: Widely considered the toughest infield position. Like the 2B, the shortstop is responsible for fielding ground balls, turning double plays and receiving throws from outfielders.

Shutout: When a pitcher(s) doesn’t/don’t allow a run over the course of one game.

Single: A hitter reaches first base safely with a clean base hit.

Strike zone: An area directly over home plate, from the bottom of the batter's kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the batter's shoulders and the top of the batter's uniform pants.

Tag: While holding the ball, a fielder either touches a runner’s body with the ball or with his glove with the ball inside, or touches the base with his body.

Third baseman: Nicknamed “the hot corner”, third base is a difficult position because of how quickly a batted ball can reach the position.

Total bases: Add all player’s hits—singles, doubles, triples and homeruns.

Triple: A hitter reaches third base safely with a clean, three-base hit.

Wild pitch: A pitch that’s too wild for the catcher to block or catch, allowing runners to advance.