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It’s actually a courageous new world for the very best designated hitters in 2023. The DH is now common, giving all 30 groups the choice to make use of a DH every day.
However that simply signifies that there are extra designated hitters on the market, making it a bit of more durable to determine the highest DHs in MLB proper now.
Greatest designated hitters 2023
The perfect designated hitters in 2023 seem like a crop of largely veterans. In reality, there are a number of who would possibly find yourself being thought of among the many greatest designated hitters of all time. That being stated, we’re solely fascinated about the very best designated hitters for 2023.
What DHs are poised to make the largest impression for his or her groups this yr? Whereas that wasn’t a simple query to reply, we did provide you with a rating of the ten finest designated hitters for the 2023 MLB season.
10. Nelson Cruz
At age 42, it’s superb that Nelson Cruz continues to be taking part in within the massive leagues. However to a sure extent, that’s why MLB has the DH. To be honest, final yr was the primary time we began to see a decline with Cruz, as he hit simply .234 with 10 residence runs. That might be an indication that the top is close to for him.
Nonetheless, a win-now group just like the Padres was nonetheless keen to take an opportunity on him. Given the profession he’s had, Cruz deserves the good thing about the doubt for only one extra season.
9. Marcell Ozuna
The Braves are in all probability by no means going to get what they paid for with Marcell Ozuna’s four-year, $64 million deal from a number of years in the past. However at age 32, Ozuna nonetheless has the resume of somebody who could make an impression this yr. He was electrical in the course of the shortened 2020 season, even when he’s posted an OPS beneath .700 in back-to-back seasons.
Regardless of a .226 common and .687 OPS final season, Ozuna nonetheless had 23 homers and 19 doubles. Clearly, Atlanta would favor to get a bit of greater than that. However Ozuna nonetheless isn’t a horrible choice at DH.
8. Trey Mancini
Regardless of getting back from most cancers in 2021 and serving to the Astros win a World Sequence final yr, Trey Mancini has one thing to show this season. His numbers have understandably come down since his large season in 2019 when he hit 35 homers and posted an OPS of .899.
Mancini hit simply .239 with an OPS of .710 in 2022, and people numbers had been far worse after getting traded to Houston. Nonetheless, he’s nonetheless simply 31 years previous and is completely able to returning to the participant he was a number of years in the past. The Cubs are giving him an opportunity, and even when he doesn’t get his groove again utterly, Mancini can nonetheless chip in 40-50 extra-base hits this yr.
7. Daniel Vogelbach
Even with limitless pockets, the Mets appear content material to go along with Daniel Vogelbach as their main DH this season. That ought to say one thing about how extremely they consider him.
Take into account that Vogelbach was an all-star in 2019, ending that season with 30 homers. Between his time with the Pirates and Mets final yr, he mashed 18 homers with an OPS of .793. He could not carry a lot else to the desk, however Vogelbach can actually deal with the DH function for a contender just like the Mets.
6. Anthony Santander
With 33 residence runs and 89 RBIs, Anthony Santander was an essential a part of Baltimore’s shocking success final season. The Orioles are little doubt relying on him as soon as once more as they hope to take one other step ahead of their rebuilding course of.
The way in which issues are shaking out with the remainder of the lineup, Santander figures to be the first DH in Baltimore regardless of simply 34 begins in that function in 2022. As a switch-hitter with some energy, that may be the very best function for him. He’s undoubtedly higher from the fitting aspect, though most of Santander’s homers final yr got here as a left-handed batter. Until the Orioles need to give Adley Rutschman a day without work, Santander needs to be within the lineup as a DH and will find yourself excelling in that function in 2023.
5. Joc Pederson
There have actually been some ups and downs for Joc Pederson in his profession. However he settled in properly in San Francisco final season and needs to be the first DH for the Giants once more in 2023.
The ability continues to be in his bat after Pederson launched 23 homers and posted a .521 slugging share final season. Being an all-star final yr ought to assist to maintain his confidence excessive, as ought to the truth that the Giants made him a qualifying supply. If he can preserve some stage of consistency from final yr to this yr, there’s no motive Pederson can’t be among the many prime DHs in MLB in 2023.
4. Giancarlo Stanton
One may debate whether or not the Yankees are getting their cash’s value with Giancarlo Stanton contemplating his contract. His .211 common and .759 OPS in 2022 had been each the bottom of his profession regardless of Stanton making the All-Star Crew for the primary time since being traded to the Bronx Bombers.
Alternatively, his 66 residence runs over the previous two seasons are nothing to scoff at. Even when some accidents have held him again a bit of, Stanton continues to be a risk each time he steps within the batter’s field. His immense energy continues to be there, which is why pitchers nonetheless should watch out with how they method him.
3. J.D. Martinez
Whereas age is beginning to diminish his skills, J.D. Martinez continues to be an distinctive hitter. The championship-hungry Dodgers actually assume so, giving Martinez $10 million to assist them win a title in 2023.
Clearly, there may be sure to be some skepticism with Martinez solely hitting 16 homers and posting an OPS of .789 final yr. However it’s not all the time about residence runs; Martinez nonetheless hit .274 final yr and has totaled 85 doubles over the past two seasons. At age 35, the five-time all-star can nonetheless be a productive hitter and the best DH for a contending group just like the Dodgers.
2. Eloy Jimenez
Even when Eloy Jimenez wish to play the outfield extra, that won’t occur in 2023 with Andrew Benintendi becoming a member of the Chicago outfield alongside a few of the different inside choices the White Sox have.
However there’s nothing mistaken with preserving Jimenez within the DH spot.
Conserving him off the sphere may assist him to remain wholesome, which has been the one factor holding him again in the course of the first a part of his profession. If he can simply keep wholesome and play 150-plus video games, there’s no motive why Jimenez can’t find yourself with 30-plus homers and at the very least 100 RBIs, numbers most groups would fortunately take from a full-time DH.
1. Shohei Ohtani
Not solely is Shohei Ohtani among the best beginning pitchers in baseball however he additionally moonlights as an elite DH.
As a pitcher, Ohtani is simply coming into his personal however he’s been a standout hitter within the massive leagues since his arrival in 2018, at the very least when you forgive the 2020 marketing campaign.
During the last two seasons, Ohtani has totaled 80 residence runs, 56 doubles, and 14 triples, to not point out 37 stolen bases. Even with a brutal 2020 season, his profession OPS is .886, which isn’t one thing quite a lot of hitters can say 5 years into their profession. Ohtani even hits on days that he pitches, so he has no weak spot, making him the very best DH within the majors proper now.
The submit MLB player rankings ahead of 2023 season: Designated hitters appeared first on Franchise Sports.
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