What's a Dinger in Baseball?
Quick answer
Slang for a home run. You’ll also hear tater, bomb, jack and moonshot.
In this article
A dinger is slang for a home run. When an announcer says a hitter "hit a dinger," the ball left the park. You'll hear it in broadcasts, dugouts and youth leagues alike.
Other names for a home run
| Slang | Usually means |
|---|---|
| Dinger | Any home run |
| Tater | Any home run |
| Bomb / blast | A long home run |
| Moonshot | A very high, very long home run |
| Big fly | A home run, often a towering one |
| Jack / "jacked one" | A home run |
| Four-bagger | A home run (four bases) |
| Grand slam | A home run with the bases loaded |
Where "dinger" comes from
Nobody has pinned down the origin. One theory points to the "ding" sound of a well-struck ball; another links it to older slang for long hits. Either way, it's been part of baseball talk for decades.
Dinger the mascot
The Colorado Rockies' mascot is a purple triceratops named Dinger, introduced in 1994. The name fits: Coors Field's thin mile-high air makes it one of the easiest parks in baseball to hit a dinger.
How to hit more dingers
Home runs come from bat speed and hitting the ball hard in the air. Our guide on how to hit a baseball harder covers the drills, and a bat with the right weight for you makes a difference; see our guides to BBCOR bats and youth baseball bats.
Home runs drive slugging percentage and are one of the three Triple Crown categories. A home run that ends the game is a walk-off. A fair ball that bounces over the fence is not a dinger: it's a ground rule double.
Related slang
More definitions: baseball terms explained.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dinger in baseball?
A dinger is slang for a home run.
What are other names for a home run?
Tater, bomb, jack, moonshot, big fly, blast and four-bagger are all common nicknames for a home run.
Why is the Colorado Rockies mascot called Dinger?
The Rockies' purple triceratops mascot, introduced in 1994, is named after the slang for a home run, a fitting name for a team that plays in hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Where does the word dinger come from?
Nobody knows for sure. It has been used for home runs for decades, possibly from the "ding" sound of a big hit or as a variation of older slang like "dong."
