Call to the pen
Fansided

2020 MLB Season: NL DH Power Rankings

By Travis Koch

ATLANTA, GA OCTOBER 09: St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Marcell Ozuna (23) singles during the National League Division Series game 5 between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves on October 9th, 2019 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA OCTOBER 09: St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Marcell Ozuna (23) singles during the National League Division Series game 5 between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves on October 9th, 2019 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
national league dh
(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2020 MLB season NL DH power rankings 10-6.

10. Josh Naylor

Drafted 12th overall out of high school in 2015, Naylor has fielded lofty expectations as a hitter for a long time. He debuted with the Padres last season and posted a .249 batting average with eight home runs and a .719 OPS.

San Diego needs him to come into his own as their DH in 2020. A stellar season from Naylor would work wonders for a lineup that lacks depth.

9. Eric Thames

Thames isn’t the first name you think of among Nationals’ hitters, nor the second, or the third. He might not even be in the top seven of notable Nats’ bats. But his value should not be understated.

He is one of only two Nationals capable of a 30+ homer season (if scaling a full 162 games). He’s also one of only three left-handed bats in the lineup. Thames fills two niches that Washington desperately needs output. Thus, his role as a National League DH will hold tremendous value.

8. Daniel Murphy

Murphy is a pure-hitting, consistent performer who would have played every day regardless of the NL rule change. The Rockies will likely tinker with Murphy, having him play in the field some and some as a DH. They’ll get a feel for his most auspicious offensive role.

Healthy hitting from Murphy, Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, and Trevor Story may be enough to jolt Colorado into playoff contention in a compressed summer.

7. Hunter Pence

Pence split time between DH and outfield with the Texas Rangers last year. Combined, he hit .297 with 18 home runs and a .910 OPS. He proved to have a lot left in the tank. It will be interesting to see how he performs in his age 37 season with the Giants.

If taking the stance of “what have you done for me lately,” then 2020 bodes well for the four-time All-Star.

6. Matt Carpenter

Carpenter was a shell of himself a season ago. He recorded career lows in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, OBP, and OPS. It was the first time he failed to exceed the league-average OPS.

As a National League DH, Carpenter can focus on hitting and simplify his day-to-day approach. He was on the bubble for playing time before being blessed by the DH installation. Perhaps he can parlay the blessing with a 36-homer season, something he accomplished in 2018.

Home/MLB News