fastball

noun

fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed and often appearing to rise slightly as it nears the plate
fastballer noun

Examples of fastball in a Sentence

He struck him out with a fastball.
Recent Examples on the Web Lane also pitches and, as a sophomore, throws a fastball that can reach 90 mph. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024 Black’s two-seam fastball has some rising action, which gives it a unique profile but also means mistakes can be hit a long way, which is what Ehire Adrianza did to Black’s first pitch of spring training. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 While Rodon’s fastball zipped in his first appearance on Saturday, Manoah experienced some struggles in his exhibition debut Tuesday by hitting three batters and allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings of a 38-pitch outing. Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Ragans refined his slider and tinkered with a two-seam fastball. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2024 In 2020, Sanchez had a five-pitch mix — a four-seam fastball that averaged 98.5 mph, a sinker that averaged 96.6 mph, a cutter that averaged 89.1 mph, a changeup that averaged 89 mph and a slider that averaged 85.8 mph. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024 Storm Davis Pitching for the Orioles from 1982 to 1986 and in 1992, right-hander Storm Davis mixed a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. Paul McCardell, Baltimore Sun, 31 Jan. 2024 After year of growth, injury, Tigers' Jackson Jobe ready to 'dominate every outing' In the Fall League, Jobe's fastball averaged 96.3 mph — maxing out at 99 mph — with a 44.7% in-zone whiff rate. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 24 Jan. 2024 Betts struck out looking in his at-bat, after swinging through an up-and-in fastball the pitch before. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fastball.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fastball was in 1883

Dictionary Entries Near fastball

Cite this Entry

“Fastball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fastball. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fastball

noun
fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed

More from Merriam-Webster on fastball

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