AboutBrian Flaspohler Expertise Questions about baseball rules, general information about the game, statistical analysis, questions about players, questions about Baseball records. I am a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and a lifelong baseball fanatic.
Experience Lifelong fan, article about player movement from team to team throughout history.
Question WAS THERE EVER A TIME IN MLB THAT THE PITCHER HAD TO BE REPLACED IF HE DID NOT TAKE HIS TURN AT BAT?
Answer Peggy,
This happens a number of times each season. The starting pitcher doesn't last long enough to make it to their first at bat. They may not bat until the third inning, depending on how many hits their teammates get.
Of course, in the American League the pitcher does not bat, so they always are removed before they take an at bat.
