MLB: 7 NL players that benefit most from the universal DH
By Travis Koch
Which MLB players benefit the most from the new Universal DH rule.
NL lineups will have a new look in 2020, as for the first time all MLB teams can employ a designated hitter. The Universal DH will all but replace the pitcher’s spot in the batting order, giving clubs an additional offensive weapon to explore.
Numerous players have a revamped outlook on playing time thanks to the rule change. Here are seven players that benefit the most.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Avisail Garcia
I’m not sure how the Milwaukee Brewers intended to tandem left fielders Avisail Garcia and Ryan Braun under traditional league rules, but they won’t have to worry about that anymore. Braun, 36, is expected to assume the DH role, leaving leftfield to Garcia.
The adjustment makes Milwaukee’s lineup even stronger, as it will now include both sluggers instead of one.
Garcia slugged .464 and hit 20 home runs for the Tampa Bay Rays last season. He’s the type of player that can do a lot of damage with consistent playing time.
Braun contributed 22 home runs and a .503 slugging percentage of his own in 2019. Needless to say, he and Garcia are worthy of regular at-bats.
Related Story. Atlanta Braves: Markakis opts out after talking to Freeman. light
Yoenis Cespedes
You see the name and automatically assume it will be spouted amongst Mets’ successes in 2020. But playing time wasn’t going to come easy to Yoenis Cespedes, who’s hardly spiked up the past three years. That was until the birth of the universal DH.
The Mets now have a spot for their injury-prone asset. Cespedes can confine his ability to the plate, and reap hundreds of purposeful swings as the club’s designated hitter.
J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith should control leftfield. Davis had a breakout 2019, posting a .895 OPS, 22 homers, and a .307 batting average. Smith had his moments in 2019, ultimately contributing 11 round-trippers and a .881 OPS over 89 games.