The universal designated hitter is gone from Major League Baseball in 2021, meaning pitchers in National League ballparks will once again be tasked with swinging the stick -- but the discussion around the possible rule change continues on.
The latest coal on the fire is the case of Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who was scratched from his scheduled Monday start in Spring Training due to what manager Torey Lovullo called right forearm soreness.
Gallen picked up the ailment over a week ago while taking cuts during batting practice, his manager added, and has been getting treatment ever since. It apparently bothers him particularly when throwing his curveball.
Tightness and soreness in the forearm can often be associated with elbow ligament damage, which is surely a concern for the Diamondbacks.
Gallen underwent testing on the arm on Monday, leaving his status for Opening Day uncertain.
The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the Diamondbacks' best pitchers the past couple seasons, in something of a pleasant surprise for Arizona after he was acquired from the Miami Marlins in a July 2019 trade.
Gallen himself is a fan of the universal DH, and said it has been tough for him to get injured at the plate.
"It's definitely frustrating considering I'm kind of an advocate for the DH," Gallen said. "I get paid to pitch, that's kind of how I look at it. It comes along with the job. I play in the National League, you have to hit, you have to bunt, you have to do those certain things."
In 27 career starts, Gallen has thrown 151 innings and sports a shiny 2.78 ERA. He finished ninth in NL Cy Young voting in 2020. The New Jersey native was originally drafted by the Cardinals, and was sent to Miami in the 2017 deal that brought Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis.
MLB instituted the universal DH last season, as part of negotiations with the players' association over the parameters for the virus-shortened 60-game campaign.