Cutoff Man Meaning in Baseball

Definition: A cutoff man is an infielder who positions themselves between an outfielder and the base where a play is being made. When an outfielder retrieves a ball deep in the field, the distance to throw all the way to home plate or third base is often too far to be accurate or fast. The cutoff man acts as a relay station, catching the long throw from the outfield and quickly turning to fire the ball to the final destination. This makes the overall defensive play much faster and more precise.

The role of the cutoff man is usually filled by the shortstop or the second baseman, depending on which side of the field the ball was hit. For example, if a ball is hit deep into left field and a runner is trying to score, the shortstop will run out into the grass, turn around, and raise their hands to give the outfielder a target. The outfielder throws the ball to the shortstop, who “cuts it off” and relays it to the catcher. Without a cutoff man, an outfielder’s throw might bounce awkwardly, go off-line, or arrive too late to get the runner out.

In addition to speeding up the throw, the cutoff man has the power to make strategic decisions in a split second. If the cutoff man sees that there is no chance to get the runner out at home plate, they can choose to “cut” the ball and throw it to second base instead to keep another runner from advancing. This prevents the “trail runner” from taking an extra base while the defense is distracted. Good communication is key, as the catcher or other infielders will often shout “Cut!” or “Let it go!” to tell the cutoff man exactly what to do with the ball as it arrives.

Example: The shortstop acted as the cutoff man, catching the outfielder’s long throw and quickly relaying it to the catcher to tag out the runner at home.