heavy hitter

plural heavy hitters · alternative heavy-hitter

1. ball gamesA player with a favorable batting average who is especially good at hitting the ball deep into the outfield or farther.

   This year's heavy hitter is Bobby Bonilla, the Pirates' slugger who's seeking to hit the biggest home run of his life.

   1991 November 20, Claire Smith, “On Baseball: Bonilla Barnstorming In Search of Best Deal”, in New York Times, retrieved 20 Aug 2014

   1 more example

   The congenial heavy hitter is one of the most beloved players in Twins history, as much for his gentle and approachable nature off the field as for the towering home runs he hit during his playing days.

   2010 December 30, Associated Press, “MLB Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew has esophageal cancer”, in New York Daily News, retrieved 20 Aug 2014

2. broadlyhobbiesIn any sport, a strong, physical player who is particularly effective.

   This is a heavy hitter list including the likes of Tiger Woods, LeBron James, and Alex Rodriguez.

   2009 July 1, Alan Burge, “Two Texans players on list of the 50 top-earning American athletes”, in AXS Entertainment Sports, retrieved 20 Aug 2014

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   On defense I always try to pair a good body-checker with a sound, steady player; for example, Ted Harris, a heavy hitter, with J. C. Tremblay, a clever defenseman.

   1967 November 6, Hector (Toe) Blake, “Keep Your Eye On An Exciting Game”, in Sports Illustrated, retrieved 20 Aug 2014

3. idiomaticSomeone or something of considerable importance; a person who is a major decision maker or capable achiever; an especially significant organization or an especially functional object.

   Even Mrs Clinton, the heavy hitter, will need every ounce of her formidable powers.

   1993 January 28, Rupert Cornwell, “Hillary called to cure ills of US health system”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 20 Aug 2014

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   For Yamana, its El Penon mine in Chile is its heavy hitter, with production expectations of 450,000 to 500,000 ounces per year.

   2013 February 20, Sean Williams, “3 Stocks to Get on Your Watchlist”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 20 Aug 2014

   Müller used this speech, delivered in the presence of Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, another heavy-hitter in the Catholic world, to draw some lines in the sand.

   2014 February 15, John L. Allen Jr., “Legionaries are Pope Francis’ problem now”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 20 Aug 2014

   Synonyms: big shot, heavyweight