San Francisco becomes the first team in 40 years to opt out of using a designated hitter. He isn’t particularly dangerous as a hitter, batting just .175, but he has 13 career home runs, which leads all active pitchers.
MORE: Bumgarner makes SN’s list of top 50 baseball players
Manager Bruce Bochy offered up a simple explanation Wednesday night for why he’s using Bumgarner as a hitter, “He’s a good hitter, he’s dangerous and we’re facing a lefty [in Oakland’s Dillon Overton].”
According to MLB.com, the Giants will be the first team to opt against using a DH since 1976, when the White Sox let starter Ken Brett — Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett’s brother — to hit for himself.
