Editing Cleanup hitter (section)

== Designated Hitter ==
The [[Designated hitter|designated hitter (DH)]] is a batter that hits for the [[pitcher]] and never plays defense. The DH is important because the DH is usually one of the better hitters. It is a trend that the DH is either in the third, fourth, or fifth spot in the lineup.  The DH was adopted by the [[American League]] of North American Major League Baseball in 1973 and by the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] in 2022. In games without a DH, the pitcher hit in the lineup unless another player [[Pinch hitter|pinch hit]] for the pitcher, in which case the pitcher left the game and was replaced for the team's next defensive half-inning.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/american-vs-national-baseball-league.htm|title=Whats The Difference between the American and National Leagues?|last=Brinson|first=Linda|date=2012-08-26}}</ref> Between 1973 and 2022, when there were [[Interleague play|interleague games]] and the National League was the home team, the American League team did not use a DH, and their pitchers took their turn at bat.