A brushback pitch is a type of pitch thrown to keep the batter away from a bag, or to “brush him back” from the plate. Also referred to as chin music or “high and tight” by play-by-play announcers, it is usually a fastball thrown to intimidate the batter from the plate. This play forces the batter to keep away, thus aiding the pitcher to protect or reclaims the strike zone’s corners. Unlike a beanball, a brushback pitch is not meant to target the batter’s head or hit him in anyway.
