Battery

The battery refers to the combination of pitcher and catcher, who are responsible for putting the ball in play. The defensive responsibilities of the battery players are both different and greater than those of infielders or outfielders. One concrete recognition of this defensive difference is the treatment of battery errors, a term that encompasses wild pitches and passed balls. According to the rules of baseball (Rule 10.14(f):):

Because the pitcher and catcher handle the ball much more than other fielders, certain misplays on pitched balls are defined in Rule 10.15 as wild pitches and passed balls. No error shall be charged when a wild pitch or passed ball is scored.

Further Reading

• Dylan Svoboda and Nick Aguilera: "These pitcher-catcher batteries have had historic lifespans", mlb.com, September 7, 2022. [1]