Meaning & use
shortstop
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablesport
In baseball, the infielder who plays between second and third base and fields balls hit in that area.
Grammar: Countable; use a/an or the before it: He is a shortstop. The shortstop caught the ball.
Patterns
- play shortstop
- the shortstop threw to first
- a shortstop for the Yankees
The shortstop fielded the ground ball and threw to first for the out.
She plays shortstop on her high school team.
The shortstop and second baseman turned a double play.
Word forms
| plural | shortstops |
|---|
Common combinations
- play shortstop
- He has played shortstop since he was a child.
- starting shortstop
- The team's starting shortstop was injured in the first inning.
- shortstop position
- She is learning the shortstop position this season.
- natural shortstop
- He is a natural shortstop with great reflexes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- infielder
- A general term for any player in the infield; shortstop is the specific position between second and third base.
Commonly confused: shortstop or second baseman?
shortstop vs second baseman
The second baseman plays near second base, while the shortstop plays between second and third base; they are different positions.
Practice
In baseball, which position is played between second and third base?
Choose one answer.
Shortstop is the infield position between second and third base. The pitcher stands on the mound, the catcher behind home plate, and the left fielder in the outfield, so none of those fits.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shortstop”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.