Could you please explain how the designated hitter rule works in the American League? I understand that the designated hitter bats for a pitcher, but that’s about it. I have seen games where the designated hitter suddenly plays defense. Once this happens, the pitcher suddenly has to bat! The whole process is so confusing, only you can make us understand.
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Although the basic concept of the DH is pretty simple–he bats for the pitcher, like you said–Major League Baseball’s rule 6.10 provides, as is only right and proper, for certain confusing subtleties. To wit: “The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order.” Moreover, “once a pinch hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once the game pitcher bats for the Designated Hitter this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game.”
You may ask: Why on earth would the game pitcher pinch-hit for the DH? The whole point of the DH is to avoid making the pitcher bat. Answer: Obviously the rule makers were trying to cover all the bases, you should pardon the expression, by anticipating every potential (if unlikely) managerial move.
