Spanish Baseball Vocabulary: A2/B1 Sports Guide

“Béisbol” is the word for baseball. The accent mark over the “e” is important. Example: “El béisbol es muy popular en la República Dominicana” (Baseball is very popular in the Dominican Republic). A baseball player is “beisbolista” or “jugador de béisbol”. For more baseball terms, check out our Complete Spanish Baseball Vocabulary Guide.

“Jonrón” is the most common word for home run. In Mexico, “cuadrangular” is also used. Example: “El dominicano conectó un jonrón de tres carreras” (The Dominican hit a three-run home run). A grand slam (home run with bases loaded) is “grand slam” or “jonrón con las bases llenas”.

“Lanzador” is pitcher. “Receptor” or “cátcher” is catcher. Example: “El lanzador venezolano tiene una recta de 100 millas” (The Venezuelan pitcher has a 100 mph fastball). “El receptor le pidió una curva” (The catcher called for a curveball).

“Strike” is the same word in Spanish (pronounced “stray-keh”). “Bola” is ball (a pitch outside the strike zone). Example: “El lanzador tiró dos strikes y una bola” (The pitcher threw two strikes and one ball). A strikeout is “ponche”. Example: “Tiene diez ponches en el juego” (He has ten strikeouts in the game).

“Recta” or “bola rápida” is fastball. “Curva” is curveball. Example: “Su recta llega a las 100 millas por hora” (His fastball reaches 100 miles per hour). “La curva rompe hacia abajo” (The curveball breaks downward). Other pitches: “slider” (slider), “cambio” (changeup), “sinker” (sinker).

“Entrada” is inning. Example: “El juego duró nueve entradas” (The game lasted nine innings). “Carrera” is run. Example: “Anotaron tres carreras en la primera entrada” (They scored three runs in the first inning). A shutout is “blanqueo”. Example: “El lanzador lanzó un blanqueo” (The pitcher threw a shutout).

“Bate” is bat. Example: “El bate de madera es obligatorio en Grandes Ligas” (The wooden bat is required in Major League Baseball). “Guante” is glove. Example: “El campocorto usa un guante pequeño” (The shortstop uses a small glove). The catcher uses a “manopla” (mitt) which is larger and padded.

“Doble matanza” or “doble play” is double play. Example: “El campocorto hizo una doble matanza para terminar la entrada” (The shortstop made a double play to end the inning). The verb is “hacer una doble matanza”. A triple play is “triple matanza”.

“Robarse una base” means to steal a base. Example: “Se robó la segunda base sin problema” (He stole second base without problem). The noun is “robo de base” (stolen base). A player known for stealing bases is “un buen corredor” or “un ladrón de bases” (base thief).

“Diamante” is the diamond. “Cuadro” is infield. “Jardín” is outfield. The bases are “bases” or “almohadillas”. “Home” or “plato” is home plate. The pitcher’s mound is “montículo”. The bullpen is “bullpen” (same word).

“Ponche” means strikeout. It comes from the English word “punch” (as in punching the ticket). Example: “El lanzador tiene diez ponches en el juego” (The pitcher has ten strikeouts in the game). The verb is “ponchar”. Example: “Ponchó al bateador con una recta” (He struck out the batter with a fastball).

Dominican Republic produces the most MLB players per capita. Venezuela has produced stars like Miguel Cabrera and Luis Aparicio. Cuba has a rich baseball history despite MLB restrictions. Puerto Rico (US territory, Spanish-speaking) produced Roberto Clemente and Yadier Molina. Mexico has a strong baseball tradition, especially in the northwest. Panama, Nicaragua, and Colombia also produce MLB talent.

“MVP” is used as is (pronounced “em-veh-peh”). You can also say “jugador más valioso”. Example: “Fue elegido el MVP de la temporada” (He was chosen the MVP of the season). “Novato” is rookie. Example: “El novato bateó .300 en su primera temporada” (The rookie hit .300 in his first season). “Novato del año” is Rookie of the Year.

“Toque de bola” or simply “toque” is bunt. Example: “Hizo un toque de bola para avanzar al corredor” (He bunted to advance the runner). The verb is “toquear”. “Deslizarse” is to slide. Example: “Se deslizó de cabeza para llegar a tiempo” (He slid headfirst to arrive on time). A headfirst slide is “deslizarse de cabeza”; feet-first is “de pies”.

“Bullpen” is used as is. Example: “El relevista calienta en el bullpen” (The reliever is warming up in the bullpen). “Cerrador” is the closer. Example: “El cerrador entró en la novena entrada” (The closer entered in the ninth inning). A save is “salvamento”. Example: “Consiguió el salvamento” (He earned the save).

“¡Se fue!” means “It’s gone!” This is what Spanish-speaking announcers yell when a batter hits a home run. Example: “¡Se fue! ¡Jonrón!” (It’s gone! Home run!). Other common baseball exclamations: “¡Batazo!” (Big hit!), “¡Ponchado!” (Strikeout!), “¡A la valla!” (To the wall!), “¡Se la robó!” (He stole it!).

“Promedio de bateo” is batting average. Example: “Tiene un promedio de bateo de .300” (He has a batting average of .300). “ERA” (Earned Run Average) is “efectividad” or “promedio de carreras limpias”. Example: “Su efectividad es de 2.50” (His ERA is 2.50). “Porcentaje de embasarse” is on-base percentage (OBP).

“Serie Mundial” is the World Series. Example: “Los latinos han brillado en la Serie Mundial” (Latinos have shined in the World Series). Other league terms: “Grandes Ligas” (Major Leagues / MLB), “Ligas Menores” (Minor Leagues), “Serie del Caribe” (Caribbean Series – a tournament of winter league champions from Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela).

In Cuba, baseball is called “béisbol” just like elsewhere. The Cuban National Series is “Serie Nacional de Béisbol”. Cuban baseball terms are similar to other Spanish-speaking countries, but some unique terms exist. Famous Cuban players include “El Duque” (Orlando Hernández) and “José Canseco” (Cuban-born). Due to MLB restrictions, many Cuban players have come through the Dominican Republic or other countries.

The best ways: 1) Watch MLB games with Spanish commentary (ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes). 2) Follow Spanish-speaking baseball players on social media (Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto). 3) Read baseball news on Spanish sites like ESPN Deportes or LasMayores.com (MLB’s official Spanish site). 4) Listen to Spanish baseball podcasts. 5) Watch the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) every winter. 6) Take our Spanish Baseball Vocabulary Quiz to test your knowledge!