cleanup position

6.1

The fourth batter in the batting order, usually the team's best hitter

noun
/ˈkliːnˌʌp pəˈzɪʃən/

Jargon

: posición de limpieza

Batting in the cleanup position, she drove in three runs during the game.

Examples

He was moved to the cleanup position after hitting several home runs this season.
The manager selected their power hitter for the cleanup position to maximize scoring chances.
He plays in the cleanup position on the team.
The cleanup position is crucial!
The manager decided to place him in the cleanup position because of his impressive home run record.
She is often the team's star, playing in the cleanup position to drive in the most runs.
To maximize their scoring opportunities, they arranged the lineup with their best hitter in the cleanup position.

Synonyms

cleanup

vscleanup position

Jargon

6 4.2

The fourth batter in a baseball lineup usually the team's strongest hitter

is the longer phrase for the same batting order role

cleanup spot

vscleanup position

Jargon

1 6.7

A fourth batter in the batting order, usually the strong hitter who tries to make runners score

is used more generally for the top hitter without stressing run driving

Surface Forms

cleanup position singular

cleanup positions plural

Morphology

cleanup + position

The meaning is directly compositional: 'cleanup' (the fourth batting spot / power hitter) combined with 'position' (a role or spot) yields the fourth spot in the batting order. As long as a learner knows the baseball-specific sense of 'cleanup', this noun–noun compound is predictable and non-idiomatic.

Etymology

The baseball term cleanup position comes from the idea that the fourth batter, the cleanup hitter, 'cleans up' by bringing runners home with powerful hits. That's why the cleanup position means the fourth spot in the batting order, usually given to the team's strongest hitter.