Ayrton Oneill
In basketball, DH can stand for Defensive Halfback, a position generally similar to that of a strong safety in American football. However, DH is more commonly associated with baseball, where it stands for Designated Hitter, a player who bats in place of the pitcher, and Double Header, referring to two games played back-to-back in a single day.
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What You'll Learn
Designated Hitter
In baseball, DH stands for "Designated Hitter", a player whose sole purpose is to bat and run the bases for a defensive player, usually the pitcher. The designated hitter rule was introduced in 1973 and has been used in Major League Baseball (MLB) since. The rule allows a team to have a designated batter bat in place of the pitcher. This is particularly useful as pitchers are often poor batters, and it allows for a stronger offensive lineup.
The designated hitter is only allowed in the American League, although National League teams can use a designated hitter when playing in an American League stadium during interleague play, the All-Star game, or the World Series. The rule has allowed for the emergence of two-way players, who can pitch and bat on separate days, or play as a designated hitter on days when they are not pitching.
An example of a two-way player is Shohei Ohtani, who moved from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB in 2018. Ohtani is one of the few players to pitch and bat professionally and was the first player to be selected for the MLB All-Star game as both a pitcher and designated hitter. Another example is Brendan McKay, who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 and developed as a pitcher and first baseman. He made his MLB debut as a pitcher and designated hitter during the 2019 season.
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Double Header
In basketball, the acronym DH typically stands for Defensive Halfback(s). These players are generally assigned to cover the slotback(s) in man-to-man coverage. Most formations use two defensive halfbacks, which roughly corresponds to the "strong safety" position in the American game.
However, the acronym DH is also used in baseball and refers to the Designated Hitter. This is a player whose sole purpose is to bat in place of a defensive player, usually the pitcher. The designated hitter rule has been in place in the American League since 1973 and has been credited with keeping two-way players in the game.
When two games are played back-to-back in a single day, the term "double header" is used, particularly in baseball. So, while DH usually refers to Defensive Halfback in basketball, it can also refer to a Double Header in baseball.
To clarify the use of acronyms in sports, it's worth noting that specific positions in basketball are typically denoted by numbers rather than letters. For example, the small forward position is known as the "three." In baseball, however, both numbers and letters are used to indicate positions. For instance, the shortstop position is "6," and DH can stand for Designated Hitter.
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Defensive halfback
In basketball, DH stands for Defensive Halfback. This position is generally assigned to cover the slotback(s) when in man-to-man coverage. Most formations use two halfbacks, and the position roughly corresponds to the "strong safety" in the American game. The roles and positions in basketball are similar to those in American football.
In basketball, a player's position is usually denoted by a number. For example, the small forward position is known as the "three". The players in the starting lineup are referred to as "starters", while the others are "substitutes" or "bench players". These starters are usually the best players on the team at their respective positions, and there is a certain level of prestige associated with being a starter.
In baseball, DH commonly refers to the Designated Hitter, a player whose sole purpose during a game is to bat and run the bases for a defensive player, usually the pitcher. This rule allows for a stronger offensive lineup. The designated hitter is only allowed in the American League, although certain scenarios permit their use against and by National League teams.
The term DH can also refer to a Double Header, which is a term used to describe two games played back-to-back in one day.
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Defensive player
In basketball, a defensive player is a player who specializes in preventing the opposing team from scoring. Defensive players can play in various positions, including point guards, shooting guards, and power forwards.
Point guards who focus on defense use their smaller size to impact the offense of opposing teams' forwards and centers. An example of a point guard known for his defensive skills is Russell Westbrook, who is also known for his ability to finish near the rim with powerful dunks and layups over larger defenders.
Shooting guards who prioritize defense are known as defensive specialists. Their main priority is to limit or prevent the opposing team's star player, usually another shooting guard or perimeter player. Tony Allen is an example of a defensive specialist. Shooting guards can also be referred to as 3-and-D players if they can shoot from the perimeter while also limiting the scoring opportunities of the other team's best perimeter player. Danny Green is an example of a 3-and-D type of shooting guard.
Power forwards who play defense are required to have the strength to guard bigger players close to the basket and the athleticism to guard quick players away from the basket. They tend to be more versatile than centers since they can be part of plays and are not always positioned in the low block.
The NBA recognizes the best defensive players through the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, which has been given annually since the 1982-83 NBA season. Notable winners of this award include Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace, Rudy Gobert, and Dwight Howard.
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Used in baseball, not basketball
The acronym DH in sports commonly refers to "Designated Hitter", a player in baseball who bats in place of the pitcher, allowing for a stronger offensive lineup. The designated hitter's sole purpose during a game is to hit and run the bases for a defensive player, usually the pitcher. The designated hitter rule has been in place in the American League since 1973, and it allows a team to have a designated batter bat instead of the pitcher. This rule has made it possible for two-way players, who can pitch and bat, to exist in Major League Baseball (MLB). An example of a two-way player is Shohei Ohtani, who moved from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB in 2018 and became one of the few players to pitch and bat professionally. Ohtani was named the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year and the 2021 AL MVP, becoming the first player to be selected for the MLB All-Star game as both a pitcher and designated hitter.
While DH typically refers to "Designated Hitter", it can also denote a "Double Header" in baseball and other sports contexts. A "Double Header" refers to two games played back-to-back in a single day. In American football, the acronym DH can stand for "Defensive Halfback", a position generally assigned to cover the slotback in man-to-man coverage. Formations typically use two halfbacks, and the position is similar to that of a "strong safety" in the American game.
Although the term DH is not commonly associated with basketball, it is worth noting that in sports, acronyms and abbreviations can vary depending on the specific league, team, or context. Certain acronyms may be used within a particular team or community and may not be widely recognised across all leagues or sports. Therefore, while DH is primarily associated with baseball and American football, there may be instances where it is used in basketball or other sports with unique or specialised terminology.
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Frequently asked questions
DH stands for Defensive Halfback(s). They are generally assigned to cover the slotback(s) when in man-to-man coverage.
Defensive Halfbacks are typically responsible for covering the slotback(s) in man-to-man coverage. This position is similar to the "strong safety" position in American football.
Most formations use two Defensive Halfbacks to cover the slotback(s).
