catcher (baseball)

A defensive position in baseball. The catcher crouches behind the home plate to receive the balls thrown by the pitcher. The role of the catcher is to communicate with the pitcher in order to strike the batter out, secure the home plate from runners, and generally coordinate defensive plays.

Due to the physical demands of the role, catchers wear extra protective equipment that other positions do not require. These include the catcher's mask, the chest protector, and shin guards.