Major League Baseball Pitching Eligibility

[centkyref]

I seem to remember there is a stipulation that one of the "position" players be designated as an "emergency" pitcher. IIRC, the rationale is to allow a team to save their pitching staff in case of a blowout and/or injury situation. It happens a few times a year that a position player will take the mound to preserve the bullpen, but I do believe (at least in MLB) that there has to be a designated player to do that. I don't know how the designation is made, whether it is marked on the lineup card or whatever, or if it applies to all levels of pro ball or just MLB.