Definition

1. Noun:
   • A boy who takes care of bats and other baseball equipment: In the sport of baseball, a "bat boy" is a young male attendant responsible for handling and organizing the team's bats, balls, and other gear during games and practices.

Usage

• The term "bat boy" is used specifically in the context of professional, collegiate, or organized amateur baseball. It refers to an official, though often junior, member of a team's support staff.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The bat boy quickly retrieved the foul ball.
  • His first job in baseball was as a bat boy for the local minor league team.
  • The bat boy handed the player his favorite bat.

Advanced Usage

• While traditionally a role for boys, the position is now often gender-neutral in modern terminology, with "bat person" or "clubhouse attendant" sometimes used. However, "bat boy" remains the common and established term.
• The role often involves other duties beyond handling bats, such as supplying baseballs to the umpire and delivering items to players on the field.

Variants and Related Words

• Bat girl (n): A girl who performs the same duties as a bat boy.
• Ball boy / Ball girl (n): An attendant who retrieves balls that go out of play, common in sports like tennis and soccer. This is a related but distinct role from a bat boy.

Synonyms

• Equipment attendant: A more general term for someone who manages sports gear.
• Clubhouse attendant: A person who works in the team's clubhouse, which may include bat boy duties.

Notes

• The term is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific to the baseball context and is not typically used metaphorically.
• There are no direct phrasal verbs or idioms associated with the term "bat boy" itself.

Noun

1. (baseball) a boy who takes care of bats and other baseball equipment