(baseball) Any of the variations of high speed pitches thrown in baseball

plural of fastball

plural of fastballer

(baseball) One who pitches fastballs.

(baseball) A pitch thrown with an offset grip and a moderate amount of added pressure by middle finger yielding a combination of backspin and some sidespin, resulting in motion to the left when thrown by a right handed pitcher with velocity only slightly diminished from that of a fastball

(baseball) A pitch count such that a fastball is likely to be thrown, usually 3-0 or 3-1.

plural of cut fastball

plural of fastball count

(baseball) A pitch thrown with a grip in the "horseshoe" orientation of the ball, with the rotation at a slight angle resulting in less Magnus effect as compared to a four-seam fastball since only two of the ball's seams cross the flight path; the pitch is delivered with a similar velocity as a four-seam fastball, but has a degree of sink.

(baseball) A moderate rotation speed backspin pitch thrown with a ball gripped between the index finger and middle finger; it has good velocity, may have a precessing spin, and sinks as it approaches the plate.