If a player serving as the DH is later used on defense, he continues to bat in his same lineup spot. But for the rest of the game, his team cannot use a DH to bat in place of the pitcher. A team is also barred from using a DH for the rest of the game if the pitcher moves from the mound to another defensive position, a player pinch-hits for any other player and then becomes the pitcher, or the current pitcher pinch-hits or pinch-runs for the DH.
The designated hitter rule was adopted by the AL in A designated hitter is usually a power-hitter with poor defensive skills, and the position often goes to older players who still get a chance to shine behind home plate.
There is often some confusion about designated hitters, pinch-hitters, and pinch-runners. While the designated hitter is there solely as a substitute hitter for the pitcher, a pinch-hitter can substitute for any player at bat. This player is usually substituted in for weaker hitters in the lineup. A pinch-runner is somewhat related in that this player is there solely to run the bases of someone who has already batted. This player is typically used just for speed. If a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner enters the batting lineup in place of a designated hitter, the new player is considered to be the designated hitter for the rest of the game.
Furthermore, if a pinch-hitter bats for any other player and then becomes the active pitcher, the team is not permitted to use a designated hitter. The first talk of creating a designated hitter position was back in , but in , the president of the National League immediately rejected the idea. On January 11, , there was a meeting amongst the American League's 24 owners on the subject of adding a tenth man to the lineup by means of a designated hitter. The vote passed as owners thought utilizing more power-hitters by means of a designated hitter would bring in more fans who wanted more action.
Usage in the minors changed over time - originally, individual organizations had some say in whether their teams used the DH or not. For a while, the Cincinnati Reds were adamant about having their pitchers bat for all their minor league affiliates. At other points a team would have their pitcher bat while their opponent used a DH.
In class A or lower games, the DH is always used. In , the independent Atlantic League was asked by MLB to test a new version of the rule, in which the designated hitter would be removed as soon as the starting pitcher left the game.
The objective would be to encourage teams to use their starting pitchers deeper into games, and also to cut down on the use of openers , while injecting some additional strategy late in games. In , the minor league Eastern League and Western League used it, but Central League farm clubs are allowed to opt out. The DH listed in the starting line-up must bat at least once before being substituted, unless there is an injury or the opposite team's starting pitcher has been changed.
This rule was added after the season to close a loophole discovered by Orioles manager Earl Weaver : he would list one of his inactive starting pitchers in the starting line-up as a phantom DH , and then, when his first time to bat came up, Weaver could decide which of a number of players to use as a pinch hitter for his DH, depending on the situation for example if there were men on base, if he needed a baserunner, etc. Pitchers Steve Stone and Dennis Martinez were used most often in this capacity.
Boxscores from that time would list the pitchers as having played a game at DH, but after the amendment to the rule was adopted, these "appearances" were erased from these pitchers' records. When experimenting with an early form of the designated hitter in spring training of , the National League toyed with three versions of the rule:.
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