MLB BASEBALL GLOSSARY
Ground Ball: A batted ball which rolls along the ground.
Ground Rule Double: When a line drive bounces on the field and over the wall in fair territory the hit is scored as a ground rule double and the batter advances to second base.
Home Plate: The base over which an offensive player bats, and to which he must return after touching all three bases in order to score a run.
Home Run: A play in which the batter makes it safely around all bases and back to home plate without stopping.
Home Team: The team on whose field the game is played. If the game is played on neutral grounds, the home team shall be designated by mutual agreement.
Infield: The diamond-shaped portion of the playing field bordered by the four bases.
Infielder: A fielder who occupies a position in the infield.
Infield Fly: A fair fly ball which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, which first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied before the second out. Infield Fly Rule: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire's judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately. When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play.
Inning: That portion of the game within which the teams alternate on offense and defense and in which there are three outs for each team. Each team's time at bat is a half-inning.
Line Drive: A ball which is batted directly to a fielder without touching the ground.
Offense: The team currently at bat.
Out: A declaration by the umpire that a player who is trying for a base is not entitled to that base.
Outfield: The portion of the playing field that extends beyond the infield and is bordered by the first and third baselines.
Outfielder: A fielder who occupies a position in the outfield.
Pitch: The ball delivered by the pitcher to the batter.
Pitcher: The fielder designated to pitch the ball to the batter.