2020 MLB Season: NL DH Power Rankings
By Travis Koch
2020 MLB season NL DH power rankings 5-1.
5. Ryan Braun
Braun may play left field on occasion, though the Brewers will want to maximize the 36-year-old’s output and manage his injury risk. Assigning him the regular DH role should do the trick.
He’s not slowing down in his old age (baseball old). Braun put together a 2019 campaign that totaled 22 home runs, 131 hits, and a 116 OPS+. He continues to impact his team in positive ways; becoming a full-time hitter should help sustain his customary pace.
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4. Yoenis Cespedes
Cespedes has been away from The Show for a long time. He last played in 2018 and has suited up just 119 times since 2017. Now 34 years old, he’ll have the opportunity to reemerge as DH for the Mets.
One thing’s for sure: Cespedes will come out swinging. He lives for the long ball, and we know he still has the strength to post gaudy numbers – even at Citi Field. He can ease back into things without having to worry about defense. Producing runs in a top-heavy Mets lineup will be his M.O.
3. Nick Castellanos
Castellanos can swing with the best of them. He uses all fields and hits for power and average. He was long restricted by Detroit’s spacious Comerica Park but then flourished at Wrigley Field during the second half of 2019. Over 51 games with the Cubs, Castellanos slashed .321/.356/.646 and hit 16 home runs.
He’ll flaunt his offensive capabilities as a member of the Cincinnati Reds this season. The 28-year-old will have plenty of chances to drive in teammates in the heart of the order.
2. Marcell Ozuna
New to the Atlanta Braves, Ozuna should frequent the gaps and the bleachers at a hitter-friendly Trust Park. He’ll jump into a batting order that should be one of the league’s elite.
He knocked 29 home runs and posted a .472 SLG with the Cardinals last year. Those numbers were tarnished by southpaws, who he hit a measly .217 against with only six round-trippers. A permanent focus on hitting in 2020 should help him balance his offensive statistics.
1. Kyle Schwarber
There may not be an MLB player who epitomizes the DH role more than Schwarber. Power is his game, while defense has been nothing more than a necessity to allow him to step to the plate. Sure, he had his fair share of outfield assists, but he was also known to take some curious routes in left field. As the Cubs’ full-time DH, Schwarber can focus entirely on his premier hitting tools. He’ll tap into his mammoth power like never before and hopefully fine-tune his swing-and-miss tendencies.
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He has the offensive ability that can carry a lineup. Two hot months from Schwarber and the Cubs might not need much help from anyone else.