Major League Baseball is implementing the universal designated hitter in the American and National Leagues this season. It marks the second time — 2020 was the first — both leagues will use the DH.
“… I like the DH, but at some point, I like to see some of the pitchers hit,” Driessen said in a Zoom call on Monday. “You have guys like Zack Greinke and those type of guys, they can swing the bat. Back in the day when I played, Rick Rhoden and that group [could] hit. I will kind of miss that a little bit, but if it means prolonging careers for some of the real sluggers, I would settle for going for the sluggers, who will have an extension on their careers.”
It’s fitting that Driessen, 70, talked about the role of the DH. He made history almost 46 years ago in the World Series against the Yankees. When Driessen stepped into the batter’s box for the Reds in Game 1 against right-hander Doyle Alexander at Riverfront Stadium, he became the first designated hitter in the…