“Challenge from a hard-hit ground ball, perhaps” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.HOP is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Challenge from a hard-hit ground ball, perhaps”. It was last seen in the puzzle of January 9, 2026, where it runs at 63 Down and fills 3 squares. It crosses 3 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.