This is the 4442nd most frequent Japanese word.
変化球
"変化球" (henkakyū): A breaking or off-speed pitch in baseball that deviates from a straight trajectory.
In this sentence, '変化球' refers to specialized types of pitches in baseball, like curveballs or sliders.
彼は変化球を使って打者を惑わせます。
He uses breaking balls to confuse the batter.
Here, '変化球' metaphorically indicates a surprising or unconventional element in an event or speech.
彼のプレゼンテーションには変化球がありました。
His presentation had an unexpected twist.
In this usage, '変化球' is a metaphor for unexpected challenges or situations that occur in life.