The butcher boy is a baseball play in which a hitter squares up to bunt as the pitcher winds up, but then quickly pulls the bat back and takes a quick swing. The goal of the play is generally to draw one of the corner infielders in close to home plate as if to field a bunt and then pull the ball past the fielder. The play is generally only tried in situations in which a sacrifice bunt is expected - often with the pitcher up to hit in National League games and a runner on base.