Japan's Central Baseball League is set to integrate the Designated Hitter (DH) rule, often associated with American Major League Baseball (MLB), in 2027. This notable shift in the rules will result in a strategic change in the game play and tactics for teams in the league.

In Japan, baseball is a highly popular and traditional sport, and any fundamental changes to its rules invite intense scrutiny from the fans and the wider public. The DH rule, in particular, has been a contentious topic; its adoption or rejection is seen as a way to preserve traditional play or to adapt to international norms, respectively. Both its critics and proponents in Japan note its potential effects on the tactics and dynamics of the games.

In the United States, the DH rule has been implemented in the American League for decades, whereas the National League has only recently started using it on a trial basis. European baseball leagues also vary in their adoption of the rule. The introduction of the DH rule in Japanese Baseball could be seen as aligning the Japanese league more closely with American and international baseball norms.