Definition

Noun: A baseball pitcher who throws the ball with the left hand. This term specifically describes a player's position and primary throwing attribute in the sport of baseball.

Usage

The term is used to identify and categorize a baseball pitcher based on their dominant throwing hand. It is a standard descriptive term in sports commentary, team rosters, and strategic discussions.

Examples

• The manager decided to bring in a left-handed pitcher to face the batter who struggles against lefties.
• Our team needs to recruit a reliable left-handed pitcher for the upcoming season.
• As a left-handed pitcher, he has a natural advantage against many right-handed hitters.

Advanced Usage

• The "lefty specialist" or "LOOGY" (Lefty One-Out GuY): This is a strategic role for a left-handed pitcher often brought into a game specifically to pitch to one or two left-handed batters.
• "Southpaw": This is a common informal synonym for a left-handed pitcher, derived from the traditional orientation of baseball fields.

Variants and Related Words

• Left-hander (noun): A more general term for any person who uses their left hand dominantly, which can include pitchers.
• Right-handed pitcher (noun): The direct counterpart; a pitcher who throws with the right hand.

Synonyms

• Southpaw (noun, informal): A left-handed pitcher.
• Portsider (noun, informal): Another less common term for a left-handed pitcher.

Related Phrases

• To have a left-handed pitcher on the mound: Describes the current game situation where the pitcher is left-handed.
  • With a left-handed pitcher on the mound, the right-handed power hitter was moved up in the batting order.

Noun

1. a baseball pitcher who throws the ball with the left hand