designated hitter
Plural
designated hitters
1
a baseball player who only bats in place of the pitcher and does not play defensively in the field
A designated hitter is a player in baseball who is chosen to bat in place of the pitcher. The designated hitter does not play in the field but focuses only on hitting. This role is typically used in leagues where pitchers are not expected to bat, allowing the team to have a stronger hitter in the lineup. The designated hitter is an important part of the offense, as their job is to help the team score runs by getting hits.
- The designated hitter hit a home run in his first at-bat of the game.
- He's the team's designated hitter, known for his power at the plate.
- The designated hitter's role is to provide offense without playing a defensive position.
- With a runner in scoring position, the manager called on the designated hitter to bat.
- The designated hitter's average batting average and on-base percentage make him a valuable asset.