I will be compiling a list of the top three players at each position including designated hitter leading into Spring Training. My lists are based off of career stats/accomplishments, 2018 statistics, and their projections going into 2019. Today we continue with the best designated hitters in MLB.
As of right now, there are only designated hitters in the American League, so it takes away the National League hitters.
As stated in the title, there are only three spots to fill, so there are many designated hitters that were not able to get on my list, so let’s first go through those players:
Just Missed
Edwin Encarnacion (Seattle Mariners)
Edwin Encarnacion has slowed down since being the Blue Jays best hitter when they went to the playoffs in 2015, and frankly there are just better, younger hitters that have passed him up. If this were a list of the best Designated Hitters two years ago he would be in the top three.
Encarnacion played with the Cleveland Indians last season, and recently got traded to Seattle. In 2018, he had his worst batting average since 2010, but still managed to hit over 30 home runs.j
Kendrys Morales (Toronto Blue Jays)
Kendrys Morales is one of the league’s most deadliest hitters when he is on fire, but he strikes out way too much for my liking when he is not hitting well.
Morales barely hit 20 home runs last year in addition to accumulating his lowest batting average and RBI totals in the last four seasons.
I put Morales as just missed because I still respect the power he has and I take into consideration he is on a non contender in Toronto.
Now on to my #3 designated hitter in baseball….