MLB Hitters Are Raking Against Fellow Position Players On The Mound

In MLB, pitchers are not built to hit: that’s why the league implemented the universal designated hitter rule this year.

However, hitters are not built to pitch, at least not effectively.

In blowouts, managers tend to send position players to the mound in order to complete a game without burning their bullpen in a game that has been, theoretically, decided already.

The thing is that this could go against one of MLB’s biggest desires: finishing games faster.

When a position player enters a game to pitch, opposing batters have a field day against him most of the time.

“MLB hitters vs. position players pitching in 2022: .404 AVG, .463 OBP, .808 SLG,” Codify Baseball tweeted.

MLB hitters vs. position players pitching in 2022:
.404 AVG, .463 OBP, .808 SLG pic.twitter.com/wPUrlMSZi3

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 5, 2022

Is this a problem that the league should be addressing?

Position Players Pitching Make Hitters Look Like Prime Ted Williams

Well, it depends on your definition of a show or entertainment.

There are people who are bothered by so many position players trying to complete innings by throwing 40-mph meatballs.

Other viewers just don’t care or can live with it, often finding it funny or entertaining.

But the fact is that when a player who has been trained to hit and field for his entire life enters a game and steps on the mound to try and get those final three (or six) outs, he usually gets battered.

It has happened to Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols, Luis Gonzalez, Frank Schwindel, and many others.

They make hitters (even rookies or journeymen) look like prime Ted Williams at the plate.

Bullpens have become an important part of a championship-winning team, and managers will always do their best to preserve their most valuable arms throughout the season.

It’s hard to blame them.