What is a designated hitter in baseball?
I · Intermediate · The game · 1 of 9A player who bats in place of the pitcher and does not play in the field. The designated hitter is locked into one of the nine places in the batting order. If the pitcher moves to a fielding position, or the designated hitter takes the field, the team loses the designated hitter for the rest of the game.
How it works
- The batting order: submitted before the game and followed throughout. Each inning starts with the batter after the last one who completed a turn.
- The DH: "a player designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers".
- Optional: a team need not use one. A starting pitcher listed in the batting order is both pitcher and DH.
- Must bat once: the starting DH must come to bat at least once, unless the other team changes pitcher first.
- Locked in: no multiple substitution may change the DH's place in the order.
- Substitutes: a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner for the DH becomes the DH.
- Lost when the pitcher fields: moving the game pitcher to another position ends the DH role.
- Lost when the DH fields: the DH may go on defence, but the pitcher must then bat.
- Lost when a fielder pitches: a defensive player going to the mound also ends it.
- The two-way player: a pitcher who is also the DH may stay as DH after leaving the mound.
- Where it is used: at all WBSC tournaments except the under 12 World Cup.
The glossary has the designated hitter, the batter, the pitcher, the turn at bat, the team and the inning.
Tricky cases
The manager moves the pitcher to first base and brings in a new pitcher. Does the team keep its DH?
No. Switching the game pitcher to a position on defence ends the DH role for the rest of the game.
The DH is replaced by a pinch-hitter. Can the original DH come back later?
No. A replaced DH may not re-enter the game in any capacity.
A starting pitcher is also listed as the DH and is taken off the mound in the sixth inning. Must they stop batting?
No. A pitcher who is also the DH may stay in the game as DH after being removed as pitcher.
Can the DH be used as a pinch-runner for another player?
No. A DH may not pinch-run.
Why the rule exists
Pitchers are chosen for their pitching and most hit poorly, so the rule swaps a weak bat for a strong one. The ways of losing the designated hitter stop a team from using the rule to shuffle players between the field and the bench: once the tenth player is used as a ninth, the tenth place is gone.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| WBSC tournaments | DH used | WBSC Baseball Appendix 1, A1.1 |
| Under 12 World Cup | No DH | WBSC Baseball Appendix 1, A1.1 |
| Pitcher listed in the batting order | Counted as two players, pitcher and DH | WBSC Baseball Rule 9.3.3 |
| Softball | A designated player and FLEX, under different rules | WBSC Softball rules |
From the rule book
World Baseball Softball Confederation, Official Rules of Baseball (2025-2026 edition), Rules 6.21, 7.2, 9.1 and 9.3, and Appendix 1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026 (PDF).