Switch hitters in MLB: What are they?

A switch hitter in baseball is a player who hits from both sides of the plate. While not entirely common, there is a practical use to any switch hitter in a lineup.

Switch hitters are less common nowadays than in the distant past, but even the NL Champion Atlanta Braves have one in the middle of their lineup in second baseman Ozzie Albies. Albies prefers to hit right-handed, but at times has been a primarily left-handed hitter.

Chipper Jones, who no doubt resides on the Braves Mt. Rushmore, was also a switch-hitter. It provides added value to any lineup, as regardless of what pitcher a manager brings into a ballgame, the hitter always has an advantage.

What is a switch hitter in baseball?

Limiting oneself to batting from one side of the plate may seem ineffective at first, but players rarely can succeed at batting both left-handed and right-handed. In fact, under 10 percent of all batters are switch hitters.

Just last year, MLB.com put together their best switch-hitting lineup, and it was loaded with Hall of Fame talent.

The likes of Tim Raines, Roberto Alomar, Mickey Mantle, Chipper, Eddie Murray, lance Berkman, Reggie Smith, Ted Simmons, Pete Rose, Francisco Lindor and others made the cut.

Do pitchers bat in World Series?

Zack Greinke is not a switch hitter, for one, but he did single in his first at-bat of Game 4. Greinke is one of the best hitting pitchers in all of baseball.

For now, pitchers do hit in the World Series, at least at National League ballparks. So, in Atlanta, pitchers must hit. In Houston, not so much.

Makes sense, right?