What Does Raking Mean in Baseball?
Quick answer
Slang for hitting the ball hard and often. A hitter who is raking is on a hot streak.
In this article
In baseball slang, raking means hitting the ball hard, again and again. When a broadcaster says a hitter "is raking," he's on a hot streak: lots of hits, often for extra bases. A hitter known for doing it consistently is called a rake.
How the word is used
- "He's been raking since the All-Star break." (He's hitting very well.)
- "That kid can rake." (He's a good hitter.)
- "They've got rakes up and down the lineup." (Lots of good hitters.)
The term describes results and quality of contact, so a hitter who's raking is usually putting up a high batting average and slugging percentage at the same time.
Where the slang comes from
Nobody has pinned down the origin. A common explanation is the image of a hitter "raking" line drives across the field, spraying hits from foul line to foul line, the way a rake sweeps across the ground.
Raking the infield (the other meaning)
On a ballfield, raking also has a literal meaning: groundskeepers rake and drag the infield dirt before games and between innings to smooth out cleat marks and keep bounces true. If you hear "they're raking the infield," that's what's happening. When people talk about a hitter, though, raking always means hitting.
How to start raking
Hot streaks come from a simple swing and good decisions:
- Swing at strikes you can drive, and take the rest.
- Use the whole field instead of trying to pull everything.
- Keep the swing short and fast. Bat speed matters more than muscle.
- Use the right bat. A bat you can control beats a heavy one; our baseball bat guide can help.
Related slang
- Slump: the opposite of raking
- Dinger: a home run
- Can of corn: an easy fly ball
- Quality at-bat: a better way to judge hitters over a short stretch
More definitions: baseball terms explained.
Frequently asked questions
What does raking mean in baseball?
Raking means hitting the ball hard and consistently. If a hitter is raking, he is on a hot streak and getting lots of hits, often for extra bases.
What is a rake in baseball?
A rake is slang for a hitter who hits the ball hard consistently, usually a dangerous bat in the middle of the lineup.
What is the opposite of raking?
A slump, when a hitter goes many at-bats with few or no hits.
Does raking also mean raking the infield?
Yes. Groundskeepers rake or drag the infield dirt between innings and before games. In conversation about hitters, though, raking always means hitting well.
