Madison Bumgarner can no longer be the self-proclaimed best hitter with a .172 batting average.
The agreement implemented after the MLB lockout had a few notable rule changes to be put into play for 2022, including the long-sought-after universal designated hitter. National League pitchers will no longer hit moving forward, which is going to change roster construction. Now, NL teams will have to consider the DH spot in their lineup for the first time outside interleague games.
While some National League teams are ready for the change, others are going to have a bit of an adjustment period. Expect to see a lot of rotations as teams try to figure out what works for them.
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Why did MLB implement the universal DH?
The universal DH should restore some competitive balance between the AL and NL, while leveling the playing field in free agency. It will also have an effect on the World Series, where MLB had used the DH in American League parks since 1986. This will reduce the gamification of the universal DH, and keep teams focused on other aspects of their gameplans.
The universal DH should also help reduce pitcher injuries that have occurred at the plate and on the basepaths. Pitchers can now focus on pitching and overall conditioning instead of trying to squeeze in batting practice. Basically: More poles, less BP.
The other obvious side effect is more offense, a key initiative for MLB. Rather than intentionally walking the seventh or eighth batter in the order to get to the pitchers, batting orders will have more depth.
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What effects will the universal DH have in-game?
Pitchers have, quite literally, never been worse at the plate. Interestingly, the two most immediate effects are pulling the National League in opposite directions.
NL teams may be more comfortable with bullpen games under the new umbrella of rules, as they can now lock in their batting order and not exhaust the roster. Keeping in mind MLB has expanded its rosters to 28 for April and teams can carry an unlimited amount of pitchers in that time, expect to see a lot of platoon starts until teams go to the standard 26 with a 13-pitcher cap. It will be interesting to see how teams navigate this first month.
On the other side, as the season wears on and pitchers get into the swing of things, so to speak, expect to see NL pitchers go deeper into games. NL pitchers often got a quick vaudevillian hook when they were going to the plate in a close game past the fifth inning. That will no longer be the case.
Can pitchers still hit?
MLB is implementing a "Shohei Ohtani Rule," which will allow pitchers to hit in the order. However, they're given a separate designation as a designated hitter. This means, in the Angels superstar's case, once he's pulled from the game he can continue batting under the DH designation. It's effectively a second position on the scorecard.
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Which NL teams are ready for the DH?
This is going to be a big adjustment, and a massive philosophical shift. The Dodgers, for example, have no one on the roster who is ready to carry the DH flag. The Padres traded for Luke Voit, who will likely fill the role for them. But most NL teams are going to have to figure out who is going to be their DH for the foreseeable future.
The Cardinals, for example, have two players in their swan-song seasons. Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina both may get cuts at DH, which is them sacrificing efficacy for tradition.
The universal DH is a huge boon for the Phillies, who can merge Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos into one questionable defensive outfielder. The Mets also have a stable of players who can hit due to a surplus of talent to field spots.
It's going to be handled on a case-by-case basis for each team, but there's going to be a lot of adjusting and tinkering early in the season. Now more than ever, tinkering is part of an MLB manager's job description, so in that regard it'll be par for the course.
