How come pitchers never hit homeruns?

Answer 1

Pitchers do hit home runs. To this point, there have been 15 homers by pitchers in the 2007 season:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/G5Jw

Zambrano leads with two.

Since 2001, there have even been four pitchers who hit two homers in a game - Dontrelle Willis, Mike Hampton, Randy Wolf and Robert Person.

Answer 2

Pitchers will occasionally hit a home run, but not very often.

Pitchers typically only play every fifth game, so they do not have the same number of "at bats" that everyday players get. They do not get the opportunity to face the pitchers as often, so they do not have the chance to learn the pitchers moves and traits.

This answers is assuming that we are talking about the National League, and not the American League. In the National League, pitchers hit when their spot in the batting order comes up. In the American League, the pitchers do not bat. They are replaced in the lineup by the Designated hitter, so the pitcher will not get the chance to hit a home run.

Answer 3

In the American League, they don't have a chance until Interleague play. In the NL, some pitchers are actually really good hitters and some hit HRs. Pitchers don't practice hitting that much. They are suppose to bunt well, not hit homeruns.

Answer 4

A few of them actually do. Look up Greg Maddux career stats and you'll see that he's hit a few. A pitcher named Don Robinson who played for the Pirates in the 80's used to hit at least one a year. In general, major league pitchers don't hit well, period. They are in a rotation, so they don't play nearly everyday. They also spend more time working on their pitching than their hitting. After all, the pitching is what got 'em to the big leagues, not their hitting.

Answer 5

Ever hear of Mike Hampton?

In 2001 he hit 7 HR's in 79 at bats.
15 in his career.

Also, they aren't training as much as position players.
Hampton only had 79 at bats. Many pitchers have less ina season. I wouldn't expect a pitcher to hit 7 in a career.

Answer 6

Cause they typically don't get batting practice (to avoid injury). And they often don't play an entier game, and starters only play every 3rd or 4th game.

you would think they'd be the best hitters since they know all about the different pitches and should anticipate what the opposing pitcher will throw in any given situation.

Answer 7

Some do and have. Glavine has one. Maddox has 5. Don Larson had 14. Drysdale had 29. Granted, not great numbers but then again these guys are paid to throw, not to hit.

Answer 8

If they showed good power there would be a position ound for them every day to get that stick in the lineup.

Answer 9

zambrano did this year.

Answer 10

they do, just not much