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Step 1
Possess a powerful swing at the plate. Most all designated hitters play the position because of their hitting prowess. You will almost never see a designated hitter with little power in a baseball hitting lineup.
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Step 2
Be a good situational hitter during the baseball game. Most designated hitters have the skill to get the appropriate hit for the given game situation. For instance, with a runner on third and less than two outs, the designated hitter will possess the bat control to score the runner on a fly ball.
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Step 3
Have less than average fielding skills. Generally, the designated hitter is not a good fielder and that is why he is playing this hitting position. While there are some designated hitters that can play the field, most are a liability on defense.
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Step 4
Hit a significant number of home runs each year. Most designated hitters are not only known for their power but also for their ability to hit home runs. Just because a players has a powerful swing it does not necessarily translate into home runs. Home runs take more than just power to hit. A hitter must have good balance and patience at the plate to hit a fair number of home runs each year. A typical designated hitter in professional baseball will hit between twenty-five and thirty home runs every year.
