In baseball , a designated hitter ( DH ) is a person who bats in place of the pitcher in the American League of Major League Baseball . In baseball , the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10 , an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player , known as the designated hitter ( abbreviated DH ) , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to home plate , rather than replace him by pinch-hitting .