バッター
ばったー
noun
batter (baseball)
1.
batter (in baseball)
The player at bat in baseball or softball — the offensive player who tries to hit the ball thrown by the pitcher.
次のバッターは誰ですか。
Who is the next batter?
バッターがホームランを打った。
The batter hit a home run.
先頭バッターはいきなりヒットを打った。
The leadoff batter got a hit right away.
最後のバッターがフライを打ち上げて試合が終わった。
The last batter hit a fly ball and the game ended.
バッター is a baseball loanword from English "batter," referring specifically to the player at bat. It is the standard term used in Japanese baseball broadcasts and casual conversation about the sport.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 先頭バッター: leadoff batter (first batter in the lineup)
- 四番バッター: cleanup hitter (the strong fourth batter)
- 代打バッター: pinch hitter
- バッターボックス: batter's box
- バッターが構える: the batter takes their stance
- バッターを抑える: to retire the batter (from the pitcher's side)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 打者: native Japanese term meaning "batter" — slightly more formal/written, used in newspapers and statistics
- バッター is more colloquial and conversational; 打者 appears in formal contexts
USAGE NOTES:
- The katakana spelling reflects the doubled consonant of English "batter" with the small tsu (ッ).
- In broadcast commentary, both バッター and 打者 alternate freely.