The "Designated Hitter" is perhaps one of the more confusing rules in baseball, especially for coaches. Usually the confusion comes into play when the designated hitter is either substituted for or enters the game on defense.
Rule 3.1.4 Provides the guidelines for the designated hitter rule. The following is paraphrased from the 2008 NFHS Rules in a effort to provide a thorough understanding of the designated hitter rule.
The designated hitter and the player he is batting for are locked into the batting order and no multiple substitutions are allowed which would alter the batting rotation. The role of the Designated Hitter is terminated for the remainder of the game in the following situations:
Basically the "designated hitter" and the defensive player are tied together for the entire game with respect to the batting order. If the Defensive Player takes his turn in the batting order, or pinch runs (he may only pinch-run for the designated hitter), the designated hitter option is terminated for the remainder of the game.
If the Designated Hitter comes into the game to play defense, the player he was hitting for must leave the game. If the Designated Hitter plays defense he is not required to play the "same position" as the starting defensive player.
Another substitute player can pinch hit or pinch run for the designated hitter and this substitute will then be the "designated hitter". In this situation, the starting designated hitter would be allowed to re-enter under the "re-entry" rule.
Here are some example situations:
· Situation 1: Jones is the designated hitter for 2nd baseman Smith. In the 4th inning Jones hits a double. Smith comes in to pinch run for Jones. Ruling: Legal; however, the designated hitter is terminated for the remainder of the game since Smith pinch-ran for Jones. By rule, the Designated Hitter role is terminated when the Defensive Player who was being hit for either pinch-hits or pinch-runs for the Designated Hitter.
· Situation 2: Jones is the designated hitter for 2nd baseman Smith. In the 4th inning Jones hits a double. A substitute from the bench, White, pinch-runs for Jones. Ruling: Legal. White is now the designated hitter. Jones could re-enter the game as the Designated Hitter for White under the "re-entry rule".
· Situation 3: Jones is the Designated Hitter for 2nd baseman Smith. In the 5th inning Jones enters the game to play right field. Ruling: Legal; however, Smith would be forced to leave the game. Another player already in the line-up or a legal substitute for another player in the line-up could play 2nd base for Smith if Jones plays right field. The Designated Hitter option is now terminated for the remainder of the game since Jones is now playing defense. He would continue to bat in the same spot in the rotation.
· Situation 4: Jones is the Designated Hitter and is batting for 2nd baseman, Smith in the 5th position of the batting order. In the fourth inning substitute Green pinch runs for Jones and thus becomes the "designated hitter" occupying the 5th position in the batting order. In the sixth inning Jones re-enters as a defensive player in right field. The Right Fielder, White, moves to left field and Left Fielder, Gray, moves to second base. Ruling: Legal. Jones must hit in his original spot (5th) in the rotation. Smith must leave the game is not eligible to re-enter. Green is no longer the designated hitter and may not re-enter the game. The Designated Hitter option is now terminated for the remainder of the game.
The main thing to remember is the position in the batting order is NEVER altered when a "designated hitter" is substituted for, pinch hit for or pinch run for. Subsequently, the batting order is NEVER altered when the "designated hitter" enters or re-enters the game to play defense. He must always occupy the same spot in the batting order throughout the entire game.
