DO pitchers bat in Japanese baseball?

[JennyMominRI]

I'm just wondering about this..I wonder if Dice-K or Okijima have ever batted

 

[Bob Slydell]

I believe they use the DH in the Japanese league, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

 

[cardaway]

I believe they use the DH in the Japanese league, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

The Japanese version of MLB does use the DH.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I just did a quick search -- it appears that there's one of the Japanese leagues (the Central League) that does not use it, so it would depend on what league the Japanese pitcher in question came from.

 

[salmoneous]

Japan is similar to MLB - they have a Pacific League with the DH, and the Central League without it. Okijima played in the CL, but was a releiver for most of his career, with less than 10 AB and no hits from 2002-2004 (only years I found stats). Matsuzaka played in the PL, but had 19 AB from interleague games in 2005-2006. In those 19 AB, he had 2 hits - a double and a HR. During interleague games this spring, Fancona ordered Matsuzaka to not swing at pitches, fearing an injury.