General
high heat
What does high heat mean?
A fastball thrown hard and high in the strike zone, tough to catch up to.
"He couldn't lay off the high heat and struck out swinging."
Origin
American baseball slang combining 'high' (in the zone) and 'heat' (velocity).
Frequently asked questions
What is high heat in baseball?
A hard fastball thrown up in the strike zone that's difficult for hitters to catch up to.
Why is high heat effective?
Hitters tend to swing under it or chase it out of the zone, making it a common swing-and-miss pitch.
Where does the term high heat come from?
It combines 'high' for the location up in the zone and 'heat' for fastball velocity.
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