Ohtani DH Rule

[Tag_Urit]

According to MLB rules...

Assume you start the game with the Ohtani rule (same player is DH/Starting Pitcher) which we'll call Player A. Later in the game, another player comes off the bench to pitch but Player A remains as the DH.

Can that player, Player A the DH, then come back in to pitch or play a defensive position again later in the game?

References to actual MLB rules would be helpful, thanks!

[Coach Carl]

https://mktg.mlbstatic.com/mlb/official-information/2025-official-baseball-rules.pdf

The answer is in Rule 5.11

1.  No, the player cannot come back in to pitch (see first bolded part below)

2.  I think the rule I quote below assumes a situation in which the player goes from the mound directly to defense so I am not sure if he can come an play defense later in the game.  Since 5.11(a) allows, in general, for a switch from DH to defense [see 5.11 (a)(12)], I think he can (but this will terminate the team's use of a DH for the rest of the game).  See the second bolded part below, which is also what 5.11 (a)(12) says.

5.11 (b) Starting Pitcher as Designated Hitter.

It is not mandatory that a Club designate a hitter for the pitcher. However, in the event the starting pitcher will bat for himself, the player will be considered two separate people for purposes of Rule 5.11(a). In such cases, the manager should list 10 players on his team’s lineup card, and this player should be named twice – once as the starting pitcher and once as the Designated Hitter. Thus, if the starting pitcher is replaced, he can continue as the Designated Hitter (but can no longer pitch in the game), and if the Designated Hitter is replaced, he can continue as the pitcher (but can no longer hit for himself). If the player is simultaneously replaced both as a starting pitcher and Designated Hitter, he cannot be replaced by another two-way player filling both roles as separate people (this can be done only once on the initial lineup card by identifying that the starting pitcher will bat for himself).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Rule 5.11(a) above, if that pitcher bats or runs as Designated Hitter, such move will not terminate the Designated Hitter role for that Club; neither will the role be terminated in the event that Designated Hitter assumes the role of pitcher on defense. However, if that player is switched from the mound or Designated Hitter role to a position on defense other than pitcher, such move will terminate the Designated Hitter role for that Club for the remainder of the game.