gopher ball

noun

: a pitched baseball hit for a home run

Examples of gopher ball in a Sentence

a pitcher who has thrown eight gopher balls so far this year
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rookie righty showed equal parts electric stuff and gopher balls in his first two appearances, then shut down the hard-hitting Twins in Minnesota last week to earn an extended run in the rotation. Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 8 July 2024 Terry’s manager, Casey Stengel, defended him, even though the gopher ball effectively cost Stengel his job. David Margolick, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2022 Despite the gopher ball, Sale looked a lot more like his old self and got through the first two innings on 28 pitches. BostonGlobe.com, 21 Oct. 2021 On the very next pitch, a 92 mph fastball, Kershaw served up a nearly identical homer to catcher Jeff Mathis, a .215/.277/.323 hitter with two homers in 203 PA; the four gopher balls matched his career high, set on June 19 against the Mets. Jay Jaffe, SI.com, 7 Oct. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gopher ball was circa 1949

Dictionary Entries Near gopher ball

Cite this Entry

“Gopher ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gopher%20ball. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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