Can a pitcher DH in the A.L.?

Question

In the American League, can a pitcher not pitching in the game be a DH?

Example:

If Clemens is pitching, can Pettitte be the DH that day instead of Giambi?

The reason I ask is because I want to figure out a way to be a pitcher and batter in the American League.

Answer 1

Sure. In fact, this has happened at least once. In 1988, Yankees pitcher Rick Rhoden was in the starting lineup as the DH (Rhoden had pitched and batted in the NL as recently as 1986 and was not totally inept at hitting). Rhoden went 0-1 with a sacrifice fly. He did not pitch in the game (he had been the Yankees SP the day before).

11-June-1988: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1988/B06110NYA1988.htm

Answer 2

Absolutely YES. There is nothing in the Official Baseball Rules that "locks" a player into a particular position, so yesterday's pitcher can be today's DH or first baseman or pinch runner or whatever you want him to be. Nothing in the Rules limits which players can and cannot participate in the game as designated hitters.

Off-topic, but to clarify another post...in Major League Baseball, the DH can only bat for a pitcher. Some other leagues will allow the DH to bat for other players, but MLB specifies that it must be for a pitcher:

"A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game."

Use of a DH is indeed optional:
"It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game."

There are ways to lose the use of the DH for the remainder of a game, read the rule for the details. That's not what this particular question is about, anyway.

EDIT: Grr thumbs-down trolls...

Answer 3

Yes you can be DH if you are not pitching. But if you are that good of a hitter than don't have a DH. Pitcher bats his position, when you pitch there is no DH for your team on that day.

Answer 4

Sure a pitcher can DH as can a position player pitch

Answer 5

Anyone on the roster can DH. Furthermore, the DH slot doesn't have to take the place of the pitcher in the lineup. The pitcher could hit and someone could DH for the catcher or the 2nd baseman, for instance.

Also, I think the DH might be optional, but I'm not sure about that. I know that you can lose the DH if you mismanage the game or run into some hard luck. Here's how: Let's say you've got 2 catchers on the team but you start one of them at DH and one behind the plate, and no one else on the team can catch for whatever reason (maybe you pinch hit earlier int he game with several bench players and now you have no one else that can sub). Now, the catcher gets hurt, and you have to move the DH into the catcher position. You can do that, but you lose the DH and now you have to bat your pitcher or pinch hit for the pitcher the rest of the game.

Answer 6

No matter what player is batting in the DH spot, he can't play defense at all.

So, there's no way for a manager to opt to having a pitcher also hit, unless its a pinch hitter or exclusively as the DH, which I've NEVER seen.

Answer 7

look at rick ankiel for the cardinals... he came up as a pitcher now it seems he has resurrected his career as an outfielder.. Better try making it to the national league as pitcher/hitter very few pitchers ever bat in the American league only in inter league play and the playoffs..

Answer 8

Not many pitchers can't hit worth a damn for this to be used....but the answer is "yes"......but he better be the next Babe Ruth for this to work....I am sure there are some pretty good hitting pitchers out there and some have be used as pinch hitters before.....hope you make it!

Answer 9

Anyone can DH who is not playing in the field.

As for your aspirations to bat when not pitching I would say give that dream up, will never happen.

Answer 10

yes, and there doesn't even have to be a DH. The pitcher can hit for himself.