Definition

Noun: - (Baseball) The fourth position in the batting order: This is the spot in the lineup, typically occupied by the team's most powerful hitter, responsible for "cleaning up" or batting in runners who are on base.

Usage

The term "cleanup spot" is used almost exclusively in the context of baseball to discuss team strategy and batting order construction. - The manager moved the star slugger into the cleanup spot to maximize run production. - Hitting in the cleanup spot comes with the expectation of driving in runs.

Advanced Usage

• "To bat in the cleanup spot" or "to hit cleanup": This is the common verb phrase used to describe occupying this position.
  • After his hot streak, he was asked to hit cleanup for the rest of the series.

Variants and Related Words

• Cleanup hitter (n): The player who bats in the cleanup spot.
  • As the cleanup hitter, her job is to bring the runners home.
• Cleanup position (n): A direct synonym for "cleanup spot".
  • He has the perfect power for the cleanup position.

Synonyms

• Cleanup position: The fourth batting position.
• Four-hole: (Baseball slang) The fourth spot in the batting order.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "To clean up": While this general phrasal verb exists, in baseball terminology, "cleanup" specifically refers to this batting order position and the act of batting runs in.
  • The cleanup hitter cleaned up the bases with a grand slam. (This sentence uses both the general idiom and the baseball-specific term.)

Noun

1. (baseball) the fourth position in the batting order (usually filled by the best batter on the team)