Translation guide
In baseball, a relief pitcher is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed. This guide covers how to refer to relief pitchers in Japanese, including common terms, roles, and usage.
The most common and neutral way to refer to a relief pitcher in Japanese.
Direct loanword from English, widely used in Japanese baseball contexts. Neutral and understood by all fans.
He took the mound as a relief pitcher.
Shortened form of リリーフピッチャー, often used in conversation or headlines. Can also refer to the act of relieving.
The team strengthened its relief pitching.
Formal Japanese term for relief pitcher, literally 'rescue pitcher'. Used in written media or formal commentary.
The relief pitcher took the mound.
Japanese terms for specialized relief pitcher roles, such as closer or setup man.
The closer, a relief pitcher who finishes the game in a save situation. Loanword from English.
The closer earned a save.
Middle reliever, literally 'middle connection'. Refers to pitchers who bridge the gap between starter and closer.
Another term for closer, literally 'stopper'. More traditional and less common than クローザー.
A relief pitcher who specializes in facing left-handed batters.
Literally 'left-handed one-point', referring to a lefty specialist brought in to face one or two batters.
The lefty specialist got the left-handed batter out.
Colloquial term for a left-handed specialist, literally 'lefty killer'. Can sound rough or slangy.
He was used as a lefty killer.
リリーフ (or リリーフピッチャー) is the everyday term used by fans and media. 救援投手 is more formal and often appears in written reports or official contexts. Both refer to the same role.
The relief corps collapsed.
The relief pitcher's excellent pitching stood out.
In Japanese baseball, relief pitchers are often categorized as 中継ぎ (middle relievers) or 抑え (closers). When discussing bullpen roles, these terms are more precise than just リリーフ.
The relief pitcher threw a scoreless inning.
They need a reliable relief pitcher.
Setup pitcher, who pitches before the closer. Loanword from English.
The setup man held the eighth inning.
中継ぎ陣が試合を立て直した。
The middle relievers stabilized the game.
抑え投手が最後を締めた。
The closer sealed the game.