a pitcher who replaces a side's main pitcher during a game
Also called: reliever
relief pitcher in American English
noun Baseball
1.
a pitcher brought into a game to replace another pitcher, often in a critical situation
2.
a pitcher regularly so used, as opposed to one who regularly starts games
Also called: reliever, reliefer
Word origin
[1945–50]This word is first recorded in the period 1945–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: beeper, individual medley, on-line, poison pill, taxi squad