Question about minor league DH

[GeekHawk]

Why do we have minor league DHs? (Our-team-only question.) Seems to me that since NL teams actually send the pitcher up to bat that getting our minor leaguers some at-bats might both increase their trade potential and also give us a better chance in interleague games. Could also give them a better perspective of what a batter sees when they're actually pitching, and make them even better pitchers.

Related note, after seeing how valuable a *really good* DH is (from watching The Edgar), why the h*** do we hire poor-hitting batters to fill that role these days? With how most of our DHs have been since Edgar retired, we might as well just let the pitcher try to hit. There's no actual rule against that in the AL, is there?

 

[JGreen79]

Why do we have minor league DHs? (Our-team-only question.) Seems to me that since NL teams actually send the pitcher up to bat that getting our minor leaguers some at-bats might both increase their trade potential and also give us a better chance in interleague games. Could also give them a better perspective of what a batter sees when they're actually pitching, and make them even better pitchers.

Related note, after seeing how valuable a *really good* DH is (from watching The Edgar), why the h*** do we hire poor-hitting batters to fill that role these days? With how most of our DHs have been since Edgar retired, we might as well just let the pitcher try to hit. There's no actual rule against that in the AL, is there?

I'm pretty sure both leagues use the DH now. Also as far as I know teams can assign the Pitcher as the DH, that way he can still bat after being removed from the game as a pitcher.

I think the reason why there is a decline in good DH players is because players are becoming more well rounded. You're finding less players that can't field, some teams will also use the DH position to give their stars a mini 'day-off', taking them off the field but still utilizing their bats.

 

[Hawkinaz]

The NL has been using the DH since 2022

 

[Hawkinaz]

Why do we have minor league DHs? (Our-team-only question.) Seems to me that since NL teams actually send the pitcher up to bat that getting our minor leaguers some at-bats might both increase their trade potential and also give us a better chance in interleague games. Could also give them a better perspective of what a batter sees when they're actually pitching, and make them even better pitchers.

Related note, after seeing how valuable a *really good* DH is (from watching The Edgar), why the h*** do we hire poor-hitting batters to fill that role these days? With how most of our DHs have been since Edgar retired, we might as well just let the pitcher try to hit. There's no actual rule against that in the AL, is there?

A lot of the designated hitters I see are player that are decent hitters but a liability defensively, the Yankees will give Aaron Judge the occasional day off from playing CF and have him DH

i remember Pinella gave Edgar a start at 3B during the game Edgar got hurt ( I think it was a rib cage muscle) and was out 2 months) IMO if a player is a long term DH keep him there

There is no rule forcing a team to use the DH, but besides Ohtani there are no pitchers that can hit better than a position player