It’s an entire new ballgame for the perfect designated hitters in 2024. The common DH rule has been successful with most groups having a full-time DH or a few gamers who assist to fill that function.
In fact, that has additionally led to elevated competitors to be thought of among the many prime designated hitters in 2024.
Rating 10 Finest Designated Hitters Forward of the 2024 MLB Season
Regardless of a big assortment of candidates, we needed to trim our record to the ten finest designated hitters for 2024. It wasn’t simple chopping our record down as a result of a few of these guys have an opportunity to be among the many greatest designated hitters in MLB history sooner or later.
Whilst you may disagree, right here is our record of the gamers who we expect would be the prime designated hitters in 2024.
10. Brent Rooker
The A’s don’t have lots of shiny spots on their roster, however Brent Rooker is considered one of them. He loved a breakout season in 2023 with 51 extra-base hits, together with 30 residence runs.
His problem in 2024 is repeating that now that pitchers know to pitch round him and make another person in Oakland’s lineup beat them. However, his numbers final season put Rooker in a bunch among the many prime designated hitters in baseball.
9. Mitch Garver
With Cal Raleigh behind the plate, the Mariners will be capable of make the most of Mitch Garver primarily as a DH this 12 months. That’s not a nasty function for the 33-year-old, who is healthier served as a hitter than as a catcher. Accidents final season restricted Garver to fewer than 300 at-bats. But, he nonetheless hit 19 homers and produced an OPS of .870 for the Rangers earlier than including three homers and 14 RBI in 14 playoff video games.
Absolutely, he’ll be a gentle contributor to the Seattle lineup within the DH function this season, which ought to enable him to remain wholesome.
8. Justin Turner
At age 39, Justin Turner is popping into an ageless surprise. He managed to provide the Crimson Sox 23 homers and 31 doubles final season whereas batting a strong .276. Turner now heads to Toronto and would be the DH for the Blue Jays in 2024.
Clearly, we’re anticipating him to decelerate sooner or later. However till we begin to see that, Turner deserves to be talked about among the many prime designated hitters.
7. Jorge Soler
It’s a thriller why it took till mid-February for a crew to signal Jorge Soler. He’s virtually the textbook definition of a full-time DH. To be truthful, he can run cold and hot at occasions.
However Soler hit 36 homers final 12 months and in addition has a 48-homer season on his resume. He’s precisely the kind of energy hitter you need serving as a DH and ought to be arrange for one more massive season in 2024.
6. Marcell Ozuna
At his age, Marcell Ozuna’s days of being an all-star and even an outfielder are over. However the identical can’t be mentioned of his days as a bonafide slugger. He gave the Braves 40 homers and an OPS over .900 final season.
In fact, his 2021 and 2022 seasons have been disastrous, so there are causes to be skeptical. Nevertheless, Ozuna continues to be able to no less than coming near matching final 12 months’s productiveness.
5. Kyle Schwarber
It seems to be just like the Phillies have lastly wised up and can make Kyle Schwarber their full-time DH this season. He by no means actually belonged within the outfield anyway. The caveat with Schwarber is that he’s a one-trick pony.
After batting .197 final season, he brings nothing to the desk however energy. However he does convey lots of energy, hitting 46 homers in 2022 and 47 final 12 months. Don’t be stunned if Schwarber makes one other push for 50 residence runs in 2024, bringing lots of worth to Philly’s lineup.
4. Masataka Yoshida
The Crimson Sox are hopeful that they’ve sufficient outfield depth to make Masataka Yoshida their full-time DH. The 2-time Pacific League batting champ proved final 12 months that he can deal with big-league pitching. Energy-wise, Boston would absolutely like greater than 15 homers out of him, which is all Yoshida produced final season.
However with 33 doubles, three triples, and a .289 common, Yoshida achieved so much final season and ought to be even higher in his second season within the majors.
3. J.D. Martinez
Simply because no crew was in a rush to signal him this offseason doesn’t imply that J.D. Martinez can’t nonetheless hit. He proved that final 12 months with the Dodgers, producing an OPS of .893 to go together with his 33 homers and 103 RBI.
Granted, a part of his success is probably going attributable to batting in a loaded Los Angeles lineup. However, the growing old slugger nonetheless has loads of energy and figures to be among the finest designated hitters in 2024.
2. Yordan Alvarez
Whereas he’s seen a while within the outfield in recent times, it seems to be like Yordan Alvarez will likely be Houston’s main DH this 12 months. Frankly, that’s the place he belongs as a result of hitting is what he does finest. Alvarez is barely 26, but he’s smashed 101 residence runs over the past three seasons.
Let’s not overlook that he hit over .300 in 2022 and .293 final 12 months. Alvarez is prone to flirt with .300 and a 1.000 OPS this season, that means he’s not too far behind the man on the prime of our record.
1. Shohei Ohtani
He might not be pitching this season however Shohei Ohtani continues to be the perfect designated hitter in MLB. He wasn’t the unanimous MVP final season solely due to his work on the mound. Ohtani blasted an AL-high 44 residence runs final season whereas additionally batting .304 and producing an OPS of 1.066.
Consider it or not, the metrics inform us that he continues to get higher as a hitter. Since he gained’t be distracted by having to pitch as soon as per week, Ohtani might be even higher as a hitter in 2024 than he’s ever been earlier than, which is a scary thought.
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