Designated hitter

Rare card · No. 57769

The designated hitter (DH) is a baseball player who bats in place of the pitcher. Unlike other players in a team's lineup, they generally only play as an offensive player and usually do not play defense as a fielder or a pitcher during a game. Due to their specialized offensive-only role, the designated hitter is generally expected to produce above average offensive stats and production compared to other players who play defense. In Major League Baseball, the position is authorized by Rule 5.11 of the Official Baseball Rules. It was adopted by the American League in 1973 and by the National League in 2022, making it universal in MLB. Within that time frame, nearly all amateur, collegiate, and professional leagues worldwide adopted the designated hitter or some variant, a major exception being Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League, which plans to adopt it in 2027.

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