A pinch hitter leads off the inning. His team bats around. Does the pinch hitter bat a second time or must he be pinch hit for? Thanks

by Bob
(North Myrtle Beach, SC)

Bob asked: Its a question about batting.

A pinch hitter leads off the inning.

His team bats around, does the pinch hitter bat a second time, or must he be pinch hit for?


Rick answered: Bob, thank you for your question.

In Professional Baseball, the pinch hitter continues to occupy that spot in the batting order, until the inning is over.

The team can pinch hit for the pinch hitter when the second at bat comes up; but they are not required to.

If they decide to pinch hit for him the second time up, he is out of the game at that point.

The pinch hitter can, when the side is retired, remain in the game on defense, as well as offense, if the manager decides to do that.

Should the manager decide to not enter the pinch hitter into the game on defense, then he replaces him with another substitute, and the pinch hitters day is over.

This time of year, when the rosters have gone from 25 to 40 players, managers have more players to work with.

Yours in baseball,

Rick