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designated hitter

baseball
Also known as: DH

Quick Summary

In baseball, a designated hitter (DH) is a player who bats in place of the pitcher. This role allows teams to have a player who specializes in hitting bat in the lineup without affecting the pitcher's ability to play on defense. The DH rule was adopted by the American League in 1973 and by the National League in 2022. This means that in leagues or games where the DH is used, the pitcher does not bat, and a separate player fills that role in the batting order.123

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