fielder's choice

noun

Baseball.

1. a fielder's attempt to put out a base runner rather than the batter when a play at first base would put out the batter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fielder's choice¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

And during their best opportunity to rally in the third, Wrobleski mowed through the heart of their order, sandwiching one strikeout of Jonathan India and fielder’s choice grounder from Vinnie Pasquantino with a statement-sending punchout of Royals star Bobby Witt Jr., getting him to whiff on a 96-mph fastball and putaway two-strike slider.

From Los Angeles Times

Tommy Edman hit into a fielder’s choice grounder in the next at-bat, but some heads-up baserunning by Freeman in a rundown between third base and home plate still got the team’s other two baserunners into scoring position.

From Los Angeles Times

TCU reliever Louis Rodriguez did a good job limiting the damage, getting a strikeout, a fielder’s choice and a flyout, but USC had taken a 3-0 lead and never looked back.

From Los Angeles Times

A fielder’s choice from Soto in the next at-bat led to a run.

From Los Angeles Times

Betts grounded into a fielder’s choice and reached via an error on a should-have-been 6-3 putout.

From Los Angeles Times