The designated hitter (DH) is a player who bats in place of the pitcher all game, without playing defense. It lets a team put a strong bat in the lineup instead of carrying a pitcher who almost never hits.
How it works
The DH takes a fixed spot in the batting order and never plays the field. The pitcher, in turn, only pitches and never comes to the plate. That keeps the pitching rotation intact while adding offense.
Universal since 2022
The American League has used it since 1973, but the National League held out for nearly 50 years with pitchers batting. Since 2022, the DH is universal in both leagues. The most famous case is Shohei Ohtani, who broke the mold by pitching and hitting as a DH at the same time.
FAQ
Can the pitcher still bat?
Almost never. With the universal DH, a pitcher only bats in rare situations (like when the bench runs out).
Does the DH play defense?
No: the only job is to hit.
