cosmo365 The Central League will finally introduce the designated hitter (DH) system starting with the 2027 season. The decision was made unanimously at the Central League Board of Directors meeting on the 4th. Since its adoption by the Pacific League in 1975, the league has maintained the tradition of a nine-man system in which the pitcher also bats. However, as high school and college baseball teams across Japan have announced the introduction of the DH system one after another , the league has shifted its policy in response to trends toward system unification and internationalization. This marks a major turning point for professional baseball. cosmo365

 xplanation: It has been nearly 10 years since discussions on the introduction of the DH system began. With Hiroshima and Hanshin, who had stubbornly maintained the “nine-man system,” now nodding their heads, the entire Central League has made a major shift in direction. The DH system has been debated countless times. Hanshin has placed great importance on league tradition and tactics, as evidenced by former manager Akinobu Okada ‘s opposition to the DH system at a managers’ meeting in January 2011. Former manager Okada commented, “The DH system makes it too easy for managers. You can tweak the batting order or shuffle the batting order during a relay. The fact that the pitcher is coming up or not, that’s the real joy of baseball.” Hiroshima was concerned about the impact it would have on amateur baseball. It was symbolic when Hiroshima’s team general manager Suzuki Kiyomi said at a press conference, “When it went all the way to high school baseball, we thought we should make a decision too.” The fact that high school baseball, which was the most conservative in baseball, had adopted the DH system actually gave Hiroshima the push they needed. When considering consistency with amateur baseball and international tournaments, that stance gradually became detached from reality . It will be interesting to see how the unique charm of baseball that has been cultivated in the Central League evolves after putting an end to the tradition of “nine-man baseball.” [NPB correspondent, Toriyanokoshi Naoko](cosmo365)