A batboy is a boy whose job is to look after a baseball team’s equipment during a game. He picks up bats, brings balls, carries helmets, and helps around the dugout (the team’s bench). It is a real job with professional and school teams, and often a first step into baseball life. The word is American and belongs to baseball; you will not hear it in football or tennis. Though actually, girls do this work too — people may say batgirl, or still say batboy for the role. It is not a player and not a mascot; it is the young helper with the gear.