Designated hitter and pitcher-hitter
WBSC · 2025–2026How the DH changes the batting line-up and when the role ends.
Using the role
The designated hitter bats for the pitcher and occupies a fixed batting-order position. A pinch-hitter or pinch-runner replacing the DH assumes that role. When the starting pitcher is in the batting order, the player is treated separately as pitcher and DH for substitution purposes. The event appendix excludes the youngest World Cup category from DH use.
Losing the role
Moving a DH to a defensive position other than pitcher, or certain changes involving a pitcher and another defensive position, ends the team’s DH privilege. The detailed substitution sequence controls who bats next. A replaced DH cannot return to the batting order; a pitcher-DH may continue in an unreplaced role within the stated restrictions.
Sources & approach ↗