Heat
A high velocity pitch
Example
what did he just throw?
straight heat. the batter had no chance
Related Slang
| Heater | A fastball |
| Cheese | Good fastball |
| Cheddar | Good fastball |
| slurve | Slider and curveball |
| Uncle Charlie | Curve ball |
| Yakker | Curve ball |
| ERA | Earned run average |
| K | Strikeout |
| SO | Strikeouts |
| Chin music | Pitch that nearly hits the batter's head |
| Brushback | A pitch that almost hits the hitter |
Can you survive our Dungeons & Dragons slang quiz?
In baseball, "heat" refers to a fast, powerful pitch, typically a high-velocity fastball. When a pitcher "brings the heat," they throw at high speed and intensity, making it harder for the batter to react in time. The term comes from early 20th-century baseball slang, where "heat" became a vivid way to describe the intensity and speed of a pitch, and it has remained a staple in baseball commentary ever since.
Players, coaches, broadcasters, and fans at all levels of baseball, from Little League to Major League Baseball, may use "heat" or "heater" to refer to ultra-fast pitches. People often use it with excitement, such as when a pitcher suddenly ramps up their velocity and dominates an at-bat.