designated hitter

noun

1

: a baseball player designated at the start of the game to bat in place of the pitcher without causing the pitcher to be removed from the game

2

: representative, substitute

Synonyms

• backup
• cover
• fill-in
• locum tenens
• pinch hitter
• relief
• replacement
• reserve
• stand-in
• sub
• substitute

Examples of designated hitter in a Sentence

you'll have to be my designated hitter in the office while I'm on business trips

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cardinals Live post said that rumors had linked Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida to a trade for Arenado, but Yoshida's name had not come up in any discussions so far. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

Burger should be the full-time first baseman now instead of splitting time between first, third, and designated hitter. —Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Ohtani was unanimously chosen as the 2024 National League MVP in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced Thursday. —Jack Magruder, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge were named MVP of the National League and the American League, respectively, MLB announced Thursday. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1