Jones, the starting designated hitter (DH), is pinch-hit for by Smith, a legal substitute.

• A. The role of the designated hitter is now terminated.
• B. Jones cannot return to the game even if it is the first time he has been a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner.
• C. The DH is locked into the position of the DH and can never be replaced.
• D. Smith is now the designated hitter.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is that the designated hitter role can be transferred, not ended, when the starting DH is replaced by a legal substitute. If the starting DH is pinch-hit for, the substitute takes over the DH duties for the rest of the game. In this scenario, Smith, who came in as a legal substitute to bat, becomes the designated hitter. Jones no longer bats for the DH, and Smith is now the one in that role for the remainder of the game.

The other statements don’t fit because the DH role isn’t terminated by a pinch-hit; the original DH can still participate in the game in a defensive capacity, but he won’t bat as the DH anymore, and the new hitter assumes the DH duty.