receptor
/reθebˈtoɾ/
The term for a baseball catcher in Spanish is receptor.
The term refers to the player in baseball who stands behind the batter to catch pitches. You may also encounter the phrase Guante de cátcher to mean "catcher's mitt".
Which one should you use?
While receptor is the standard term, you may hear Cátcher used informally. In many Latin American countries, especially in baseball-heavy regions like the Caribbean, it is common to use the anglicism el catcher in casual conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The use of el catcher is common in many Latin American countries, especially in baseball-heavy regions like the Caribbean.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun changes based on gender and number: use receptora if the catcher is female, and use receptores for the masculine or mixed-gender plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/reθebˈtoɾ/
Did you know?
- The word receptor is a polysemous term used both in sports and in science to describe a 'sensor' or an electronic 'receiver'.
- While 'receptor' is the official term, the word 'cátcher' is so common in countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela that it has been officially adopted into the Royal Spanish Academy's dictionary as an anglicism.
- Spanish-speaking sports commentators often use the specialized verb recepcionar to describe the specific action of a receptor catching the ball.
Examples in context
- El cátcher de béisbol es una de las posiciones más exigentes del juego.The baseball catcher is one of the most demanding positions in the game.
- El receptor de béisbol tiene la importante tarea de comunicarse con los lanzadores.The baseball catcher has the important task of communicating with the pitchers.
- El receptor es muy importante en el equipo.The catcher is very important on the team.
- Necesitamos un receptor con mucha experiencia.We need a catcher with a lot of experience.
- El receptor atrapó la bola con facilidad.The catcher caught the ball with ease.
Example conversation
Javier and María are watching a baseball game.
- JavierMira qué buen lanzamiento hizo el receptor.Look what a great catch the catcher made.
- MaríaSí, es muy rápido con la pelota.Yes, he is very fast with the ball.
- JavierEl receptor es la pieza clave aquí.The catcher is the key piece here.
- MaríaTienes razón, Javier.You are right, Javier.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry receptor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
