Ground Ball Meaning in Baseball

Definition: A ground ball (or “grounder”) is a ball hit by the batter that bounces or rolls along the grass or dirt of the infield. Unlike a fly ball that travels through the air, a ground ball requires fielders to stay low and use their gloves to scoop the ball up from the ground.

A ground ball is often the result of a batter hitting the top half of the baseball, forcing it downward. For a pitcher, inducing a ground ball is usually a good thing because it often leads to an easy force out at first base or a double play if there are runners on. However, if the ball is hit very hard or “finds a hole” between the infielders, it can easily roll into the outfield for a base hit.

Fielding a ground ball is a fundamental skill that requires “soft hands” and quick reflexes. Infielders are taught to get their bodies directly in front of the ball and keep their gloves open on the dirt so the ball doesn’t roll under them. Because ground balls can take “bad hops” off a stray pebble or a patch of uneven dirt, they can be unpredictable and are a frequent cause of defensive errors.

Example: The shortstop stayed low to scoop up the sharp ground ball and threw it to first base just in time to get the runner out.