slugger

Slugger is an informal term used primarily in baseball to describe a player who hits for power, especially with home runs and extra-base hits. The word derives from slug, meaning to strike with a heavy blow, and it conveys the idea of a hitter who can drive the baseball with strength. A slugger is often contrasted with a contact hitter or a table-setter, emphasizing power over consistency of on-base percentage.

In baseball analysis, sluggers are associated with statistics that measure power, notably home runs and slugging percentage (SLG). Slugging percentage translates a player’s total bases into a per-at-bat figure, providing a numeric gauge of a hitter’s ability to produce extra bases. When combined with on-base percentage, it contributes to metrics like OPS (on-base plus slugging). While sluggers contribute significantly to run production, they may also exhibit higher strikeout rates and sometimes lower on-base skills compared with non-sluggers, depending on era and player profile.

The term is informal and widely used in media, scouting, and fan discussions. It can serve as a descriptor for players known for power at the plate, and in some cases may function as a nickname in promotional or journalistic contexts. It is not an official position or credential.

Beyond baseball, slugger can describe things or characters associated with heavy striking power in a broader sense, including fictional content or branding that invokes strength. Overall, Slugger conveys the notion of power-hitting ability rather than a formal category.