Are Catchers Considered Infielders?

If you've ever watched a baseball or softball game and wondered where the catcher fits in the defensive lineup, you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions from players new to the sport — and even some seasoned fans get it wrong. The short answer: no, catchers are not considered infielders. But the full answer is a lot more interesting.

The Defensive Positions Explained

Baseball and softball divide the field into two primary defensive zones: the infield and the outfield. The infield consists of four positions — first base (1B), second base (2B), third base (3B), and shortstop (SS). These players are positioned on or near the dirt portion of the diamond.

The outfield consists of left field (LF), center field (CF), and right field (RF). Then there's the pitcher (P) — and the catcher (C).

The catcher occupies a unique position called the battery alongside the pitcher. While the catcher is physically located behind home plate — which sits at the corner of the infield diamond — they are classified as their own distinct position, separate from the four infielders.

Why Catchers Are Not Infielders

The distinction comes down to role, positioning, and official classification:

• Positional numbering: In baseball's official scoring system, each position has a number. Infielders are numbered 3 (1B), 4 (2B), 5 (3B), and 6 (SS). The catcher is numbered 2 — a standalone designation that predates the infield/outfield classification.
• Defensive role: Infielders are primarily responsible for fielding ground balls, covering bases, and turning double plays. The catcher's role is fundamentally different — calling pitches, blocking balls in the dirt, throwing out baserunners, and managing the entire defense from behind the plate.
• Physical positioning: Infielders set up in fair territory. The catcher sets up in foul territory, behind home plate, in the catcher's box.

The Catcher's Unique Role on Defense

The catcher is often called the quarterback of the defense — and for good reason. No other position has a full view of the entire field. Catchers direct infielders and outfielders on positioning, call pitches based on the batter's tendencies, and are responsible for one of the most physically demanding jobs in all of sports.

From a gear standpoint, catchers are also the most heavily equipped players on the field. A full catcher's kit includes a helmet, chest protector, leg guards, and a mitt — all engineered to absorb punishment pitch after pitch, game after game.

Are Catchers Ever Grouped With Infielders?

In casual conversation, you'll sometimes hear the catcher lumped in with infielders — especially when coaches talk about "the infield" as a unit during practice. Some youth leagues and informal settings use the term loosely. But in official baseball and softball rules, scoring, and position classification, the catcher stands alone.

Fantasy baseball platforms, scouting reports, and official scorecards all treat the catcher as a separate positional category — never as an infielder.

What About Softball?

The same rules apply in softball. The catcher is positioned behind home plate, wears full protective gear, and is classified independently from the four infield positions. Whether you're playing fastpitch or slowpitch, the catcher is never an infielder.

Catchers are not infielders. They are their own position — one of the most demanding, most strategic, and most gear-intensive roles in baseball and softball. While they share the dirt with infielders and work in close proximity to the infield diamond, their classification, role, and responsibilities are entirely distinct.

If you're a catcher looking to elevate your game, the gear you wear matters as much as the skills you develop. Explore Field General's full lineup of catcher's gear — built for players who take the position seriously.