And Why Does the Major League Baseball Need a DH?

Jacob deGrom is solid proof baseball does not need the Designated Hitter.  In the fifth inning of the first game of the young season for the New York Mets, deGrom has 2 base hits and one RBI. In terms of career stats, in eight seasons deGrom has had 350 at bats with a batting average of .189, 66 hits, 23 runs batted in and 3 home runs. Not great, but remember, he only gets at bats every five games and in those games, he will not bat as many times as the rest of the players.

If we look at the the ninth hitter for American League teams, most times their numbers are not much better than deGrom’s. For example, let’s look at the Boston Red Sox’s ninth hitter this season: Franchy Cordero, a 26 year old outfielder. In five major league seasons, Franchy has a .232 batting average in 289 total at bats. He has 67 hits, 12 home runs and 36 RBI’s. Franchy has a career batting average not much higher than deGrom’s, about forty more hits and ten more RBI’s. Is he a better hitter than Jacob deGrom? If deGrom was able to focus on his hitting full time, and had as many at bats as Franchy, I would argue deGrom could be the better hitter.

So is the DH in the American League really needed? Last night Shohei Ohtani of the Anaheim Angels both pitched and batted in a game.  It is the first time an American League team since 1976 willingly gave up their DH spot (the pitcher batted 8th) and it is the first time since 1903 a pitcher hit second on the line-up.  

How did Ohtani do?  He was consistently hitting 100 mph with his fastball while on the mound and on the first pitch he saw in the batter’s box, he hit it 450 feet for a home run.  Shohei Ohtani has a career batting average of .267, with 235 hits, 49 home runs and 150 RBI’s in four MLB seasons. Ohtani’s stats are far superior to our American League ninth batter example Franchy Cordero. Before the Franchy Cordero fan club starts sending me hate mail, I am not disparaging him in any way. I’m just using him as an example. If Franchy himself is reading this, I hope you have a great season bud.

If Major League Baseball has pitchers like deGrom and Ohtani who can hit as well as a batter hitting ninth in the line-up, then why do we need a DH? Is there really a need to replace a pitcher with a hitter when your pitcher can potentially put the ball in play better then your regular 9th batter (in the AL)? There’s no need. Let the players who are in the game play both sides of the field: offense and defense.