AP Photo/Ross D. FranklinThe designated hitter role can be retained by pitchers who are removed from the mound during games.
According to a report by the New York Post, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association agreed to changes to the new collective bargaining agreement, including a Shohei Ohtani rule. In an effort to promote more two-way players such as the Los Angeles Angels star, starting pitchers who are in the lineup can stay at the plate even after they are done pitching.
The rule will last for a while.
In order to make up for the shortened spring training, rosters will be expanded from 26 to 28 players through May 1.
The doubleheaders were seven in 2020 and 2021.
When rosters return to 26 players, there is no limit on how many pitchers teams can have before that.
The increase will allow pitchers to stretch out and prepare for bigger roles, which will hopefully prevent injuries and roster crunches, issues that could linger throughout the campaign.
The league's owners still have to approve the changes next week, but Sherman reported they are expected to pass because just a simple majority of the 30 owners is needed.
The Ohtani rule will have a big impact on the Angels this season.
He won the American League's Most Valuable Player and the Silver Slugger awards in the same season in which he slashed.257/.372/.592 with 46 home runs, 100 RBI, 26 stolen bases and an MLB-best eight triples. He had a 9-2 record, 3.18 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 156 strikeouts as a pitcher.
The biggest star in baseball last year was Ohtani, even though his team missed the playoffs because of his ability to thrive in different roles.
Maybe this rule change will encourage others to follow his path, but he set the bar high.
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