What does designated hitter mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈdɪzɪɡˌneɪtɪd ˈhɪtər/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

In baseball, a player who bats in place of the pitcher in the American League, typically a player who excels at hitting and is not skilled in the field.

Examples

• The team’s designated hitter hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
• The manager decided to use a designated hitter in the game to give the pitcher a rest.

Synonyms

• Pinch hitter
• Batter

Antonyms

• Pitcher
• Fielder

Additional Information

The designated hitter rule was introduced in the American League in 1973 to increase offense and create more strategy in the game. The player acting as the designated hitter does not participate in the game on the field, but only bats in the pitcher’s place. This rule is not used in the National League, where the pitcher is required to bat in the lineup.

In some cases, a player may be used as a designated hitter due to an injury that prevents them from playing in the field, but allows them to continue batting. The designated hitter can be a valuable asset to a team, providing an additional threat in the lineup.

Etymology

The term “designated hitter” comes from the idea of designating a specific player to bat in place of the pitcher.

Usage Notes

The term “designated hitter” is commonly used in American baseball, but may not be well-known or used in other forms of baseball or in other countries.

Cultural References

• In the movie “Moneyball,” the Oakland Athletics use a designated hitter to help turn their season around.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• Pinch hit: to bat in place of another player, often in a critical situation.

Related Words or Phrases

• Batting order
• Lineup

Collocations

• designated hitter rule
• use a designated hitter

Common Misspellings

• designated hiter
• desinated hitter