NCAA 7-2 Designated Hitter

Designated Hitter

SECTION 2.

a. The designated hitter (DH) is a player designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers.

b. Basic principles:

1) The DH may bat in any position in the lineup, but this position cannot be changed during the game for any reason.

2) The DH must be so designated before the game and included in the lineup cards presented to the umpire-in-chief. In this case, the team actually is using 10 players with the pitcher not listed in the batting order.

3) The DH may not run for any other player that is in the lineup at any time.

c. It is not mandatory that a player be designated to bat for the pitcher. If the pitcher is listed in the batting order, the pitcher automatically becomes the DH. In this case, the pitcher is to be considered as two players, both the pitcher and DH (P/DH), and can be substituted for as such.

d. 10-player lineup—DH is not the pitcher

1) If the pitcher is replaced defensively:

a) A pitcher may be replaced in accordance with Rule 9-4.

b) The new pitcher is now being batted for by the DH. The replaced pitcher may not reenter the game in any other capacity.

c) The replaced pitcher may be immediately inserted as the DH; the head coach must make this known to the umpire-in-chief at the time of the substitution.

d) Before a pitch is thrown by the new pitcher, 10-player lineup rules continue to apply; however, the original (replaced) pitcher may not reenter the game in any other capacity.

e) Once a pinch hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, the DH’s role is terminated for the remainder of the game.

2) If the pitcher is moved to a defensive position:

a) The DH is terminated for the remainder of the game.

b) The pitcher being placed at a defensive position must bat in the place of the removed defensive player.

(1) If only one substitution is made, the new pitcher must bat in the previous spot of the DH.

(2) If more than one substitution is made, the coach must designate their positions in the batting order at that time (see Rule 5-5-e and Note).

Note: Multiple substitutions used for the purpose of changing the batting order does not occur unless two new players (not including the pitcher going to a defensive position) are brought into the game.

c) A pitcher who is removed from the pitching position but remains in the game as a defensive player may return to the mound only once with the exceptions of the provisions of Rules 7-2-c and 9-4-b.

d) When the designated hitter and the replaced pitcher both enter on defense at the same time, the coach must designate the positions in the batting order of the new pitcher and the replaced pitcher.

e) The designation must be made before the coach goes to the mound. The consequences for failure to do so will result in the two defensive players going into the lineup straight up for the players they are replacing.

3) If the DH is replaced offensively:

a) The DH may be pinch hit for or pinch run for at any time. The pinch hitter or pinch runner then becomes the DH. The DH may become the pitcher at the time of the offensive substitution.

(1) The replaced DH may not return offensively.

(2) The replaced pitcher may not return in any capacity.

4) There is no loss of DH if the pitcher becomes the DH as a pinch hitter or pinch runner. a) The pitcher may pinch hit or pinch run ONLY for the DH and then become the DH. The pitcher may then later be replaced as the DH and remain as the pitcher.

5) If the DH is moved to a defensive position:

a) The DH is terminated. All nine-player lineup rules shall apply from this point forward.

b) The former DH, who now is a defensive player, must continue to bat in the original DH spot. The pitcher must bat in the lineup spot of the removed defensive player (see Rule 5-5-d).

c) When the designated hitter and the pitcher both enter on defense at the same time, the coach must designate the positions in the batting order of the new pitcher and the previous pitcher.

6) If the DH becomes the pitcher:

a) The DH may be inserted as the pitcher, then subsequently be relieved as the pitcher and still remain as the DH.

b) There is no loss of DH.

7) If a defensive player becomes the pitcher:

a) The DH is terminated for the remainder of the game.

b) The DH may assume the defensive player’s position.

c) Any substitute player who comes in for the defensive player must bat in the DH spot.

8) If the pitcher is ejected from the game:

a) The substitute pitcher must be named immediately.

9) If the DH is ejected from the game.

a) The DH may be replaced by another DH. The DH position is not terminated by the ejection.

b) The pitcher may become the P/DH at this time and all nine-player lineup rules shall apply from this point forward.

e. Nine-player lineup—DH is the pitcher

1) If the P/DH is replaced defensively as the pitcher:

a) When replaced as the pitcher, the P/DH may:

(1) Remain as the DH and bat only in the DH spot. If remaining as the DH, the individual or subsequent DH, cannot enter the game in any other capacity (e.g., as the pitcher, defensive player or pinch runner).

2) If the P/DH is moved to a defensive position:

a) The P/DH may be moved to a defensive position; the DH is terminated for the remainder of the game.

b) The P/DH, being placed at a defensive position, must bat in the original DH spot.

c) The new pitcher must bat in the spot of the replaced defensive player.

d) If the P/DH goes to a defensive position, the individual may return as a pitcher once since the P/DH was originally considered as two different players. If the P/DH was removed as a pitcher on a second trip of an inning or after the third free trip, the player cannot return to pitch.

e) At the time the coach makes the pitching change, he shall indicate to the plate umpire the playing status of the removed pitcher.

PENALTY—Once the coach has reached the dugout, the coach may not move the replaced pitcher to a defensive position or have the replaced pitcher remain as the DH.

3) P/DH is replaced offensively as the DH; a) When the P/DH, whether as the starting P/DH or a subsequent one, is replaced as the DH, the individual may remain in the game as a pitcher. However:         (1) The P/DH cannot subsequently move to a defensive position.

(2) The P/DH cannot return as the designated hitter (once a player leaves the offensive lineup, he cannot return).

4) If the P/DH is ejected from the game:

a) The P/DH may be replaced by two players—a pitcher and a DH—or by one player, a P/DH.

5) If a defensive player becomes the pitcher:

a) The DH is terminated for the remainder of the game.

b) The P/DH may assume the defensive player’s position.

c) Any substitute player who comes in for the defensive player (former P/ DH) must bat in the DH spot.

6) If a runner or batter is substituted for the DH:

a) A runner or batter may be substituted for the P/DH and then become the P/DH or the DH only.

(1) A replaced P/DH may remain in the game only as a pitcher and that change must be announced at the time of the original substitution.