Besides the lack of fan attendance, one of the biggest changes that came to Major League Baseball during the 2020 season was the implementation of a universal designated hitter.
The universal DH further lengthened National League lineups as pitchers were no longer required to hit. Many players and coaches grew to like the change and hoped it would be back for the 2021 season.
However, MLB and the Players Association could not reach a deal prior to the start of Spring Training. The league would only agree to the universal DH returning if the players accepted another year of expanded playoffs.
While there was hope the sides would revisit talks before Opening Day, that is no longer considered likely. As a result, NL teams will lose the DH spot in favor of the pitcher batting this season.
After the one-year layoff, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believe pitchers will struggle at the plate even more so than what is typically expected. “Yeah, I do. I think there’s going to be a drop off in performance in the batter’s box,” he said.
“I think the success rate for pitchers bunting will be a tick down. Also because the pitchers nowadays just keep getting better. Their stuff keeps getting better, so that makes it even more difficult.”
Roberts is among the NL managers that would have liked to see the universal DH return this season. The Dodgers greatly benefitted from the change last year as they were able to give different players occasional starts and rest others.
Roberts retired that his first choice is for the universal DH to return, as it increases offense and makes games more exciting. “I don’t know if bad, but it’s probably not my preference,” he said of pitchers batting. “I’ve sort of crossed over to the other side.”
Thus far Clayton Kershaw is the only Dodgers pitcher to bat in a Cactus League game this spring. He singled to left field in the at-bat.
Will the universal DH return in 2022?
Though it appears the universal DH won’t be a factor for the 2021 season, the assumption is that it will be included in the next CBA and return the following year. The current CBA expires on Dec. 1.
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