Designated hitter unlikely in NL

Though support for adding a designated hitter in the National League is “gaining momentum” among major league players, commissioner Rob

Manfred said the “most likely outcome” is to keep the status quo.

Speaking to reporters at the Baseball Writers Association of America’s All-Star luncheon, MLB Players Association Union Chief Tony Clark said conversation for abolishing pitcher plate appearances is at an alltime high.

“It’s gaining momentum,” Clark said. “In a number of conversations that we’ve had, players are talking about it now more than ever.”

In a first half that featured waning offense and rising concerns about the lack of balls in play, National League pitchers slashed .113/.144/.136 in 2,866 plate appearances.

Two high-profile pitchers — the Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka and Mets ace Jacob DeGrom — were injured while on offense during the first half. Manfred, who followed Clark at the dais uesday, said the hangup lies with NL owners.

“The most likely outcome remains the status quo,” Manfred said. “Extinction is a bad word, it’s a harsh word, it’s a very vital word. If you get rid of the (non-DH) in the National League, there is a brand of baseball, the non-DH brand, that’s not played anywhere that’s meaningful any longer. I think there’s going to be some hesitation to that.”