run batted in
LowSport (Baseball), Informal (extended sense)
Definition
Meaning
A statistic awarded to a batter in baseball for a run scored by a teammate as a direct result of that batter's fair hit.
Used more generally to signify a key action or contribution that directly leads to a successful outcome.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always abbreviated as 'RBI'. Plural is 'RBIs' or 'runs batted in'. In its extended, metaphorical sense, it implies direct, attributable causation of a positive result.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Exclusively an American term related to baseball. In British English contexts, the term is only used when discussing baseball itself; it has no native equivalent in cricket or other sports.
Connotations
In the UK, it is purely a technical baseball term with no metaphorical usage. In the US, while primarily technical, it has developed a minor metaphorical use in business and sports commentary.
Frequency
Very frequent in US sports media (MLB coverage); extremely rare in UK media outside of specific baseball reports.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Batter] recorded an RBI with a [hit type] to [field location].[Batter] drove in [number] runs.His RBI in the eighth inning proved decisive.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's an RBI machine.”
- “That's a textbook RBI situation.”
- “Clutch RBI”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorically used: 'Her marketing campaign was the RBI for the product launch, directly driving the sales target.'
Academic
Rarely used outside of papers on sports statistics or the sociology of baseball.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in conversations about baseball or among fans using it metaphorically.
Technical
Precise statistical term in baseball scoring, defined by MLB rulebook.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The batter failed to run anyone in during the game.
- He ran in two with a double to left-centre.
American English
- He batted in the winning run.
- She drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double.
adjective
British English
- The run-batted-in statistic is crucial for clean-up hitters.
- He holds the club record for run-batted-in totals.
American English
- It was an RBI situation with runners in scoring position.
- He's known for his RBI production in clutch moments.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has one RBI this season.
- What does RBI mean?
- The player got an RBI with a single to right field.
- RBIs are important for a team's success.
- Despite going 1-for-4, his one hit was a crucial RBI double that broke the tie.
- Analysts often debate whether RBIs are a true measure of a hitter's individual value.
- While his batting average declined, his propensity for delivering RBIs in high-leverage situations made him an invaluable asset in the middle of the lineup.
- The sabermetric movement has devalued the RBI as a primary metric, arguing it is heavily dependent on teammates getting on base.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think RBI: **R**un **B**ecause of **I** (the batter's hit).
Conceptual Metaphor
CAUSATION IS DRIVING (drove in a run); SUCCESS IS A SCORE (racked up RBIs).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "забежавший вбитый". It is a fixed term: 'RBI' (ар-би-ай).
- In Russian baseball contexts, use 'принесённый пробег' (принесённый ран) or simply 'RBI'.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as a word 'ruby' instead of saying the letters R-B-I.
- Using 'RBI' as a countable noun incorrectly: 'He had three RBIs' is correct, 'He had three RBI' is also acceptable but less common.
- Confusing it with 'run scored', which credits the runner, not the batter.
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'run batted in' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are acceptable. 'RBIs' (pronounced 'R-B-I's') is more common in casual speech, while 'RBI' (as in 'he has 50 RBI') is often used in formal statistics.
Yes. An RBI can be awarded on a sacrifice fly, sacrifice bunt, ground out, or even a bases-loaded walk or hit-by-pitch, provided a run scores as a result.
Critics argue it is highly context-dependent, relying on teammates being on base, and thus is not a pure measure of a hitter's individual skill compared to metrics like on-base percentage or weighted runs created (wRC+).
Yes, particularly in American English in business or sports contexts, to describe a direct, attributable contribution to a successful outcome, e.g., 'Her presentation was the RBI that secured the client.'