Major League Baseball Pitching Eligibility
 

Hey guys I currently have a bragging rights bet going on with a fellow official of mine. I have searched all over for a rules reference to the situation yet cannot find one. I am hoping that you all can help guide me in finding one.

In Major League Baseball, I say that in order for a player to be eligible to pitch that he must be listed on the official lineup as an eligible pitcher. If he is not listed on the lineup as a pitcher then he cannot pitch. My friend says that no such rule exists and that anyone on the team can pitch.

Sorry, you owe your buddy a beer.

(Think back, and you'd have known your position to be false. Jose Canseco comes immediately to mind, but there have been LOTS of examples of position players stepping in to pitch in a blowout. The lineup card in MLB doesn't list subs at positions anyway.)

I can't imagine Wilson Valdez, who started at 2nd the night he pitched, being listed as an "eligible pitcher."

Non-pitcher with Pitching Appearances - Baseball-Reference.com

A list of players who have at least five times as many games as a non-pitcher as they do as pitchers. While this does include players that switched positions for a while (Ruth, Ankiel), it also includes those that only pitched an inning or two.

Always a good hint that the rule doesn't exist. Just curious for my own learning...why did you think that?

I think its so
 

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.

no such rule/limitation - which I tried typing in all caps but someone who thinks users are stupid created an editor that won't allow it.

ydrc

I remember late in his career, Rocky Colavito won a DH for the Yanks. A walk-off home run in the first game, and a save in the nightcap. As strong an arm as there ever was.

Excellent! A chance to use a word I so rarely get to use.

Horsehockey!

Hmmm,
 

I just wonder WHERE these guys get these ideas.

T

Wilson Valdez or Wilson Alvarez? I'm guessing the latter.

Jose Canseco

There's an echo in here... :)

Sorry for the delay in a response. Been a lot of long days at work and long nights on the ball field the last couple of days.

My father played professional baseball in the early 70s and was a catcher. He had a pretty good arm and he remembers being listed on the lineup card as a pitcher in case they needed a few emergency innings.