15 Best Designated Hitters in MLB History, Ranked

The designated hitter was first introduced to the American League in 1973 and only became permanent in the National League in 2022. As a result, the best designated hitters in MLB history are from the last few decades, with a few active players making it into my top 15.

15 Best Designated Hitters in MLB History, Ranked

Who Are the Greatest Major League Baseball Designated Hitters Ever?

1. Frank Thomas

Only one DH has a better wRC+ than Frank Thomas. 

Thomas also has the highest fWAR among designated hitters. There was no question over who was going to top these rankings – Big Hurt walked more than he struck out, won two MVPs, and hit 521 career big flies. 

2. Edgar Martinez

Just three players, including two active stars, can better Edgar Martinez’s 147 wRC+. Like Thomas, Martinez walked more than he struck out across his career. He was a seven-time All-Star and finished third in AL MVP voting in 1995.

3. David Ortiz

After struggling to establish himself in Minneapolis, David Ortiz became a beloved figure in Boston by winning three World Series and posting a 148 OPS+ across 14 seasons at Fenway Park. Big Papi hit 541 career home runs and led the majors in OPS in his age-40 campaign.

4. Paul Molitor

Paul Molitor was an elite contact hitter who posted a career batting average of .306 and stole 504 bases. 

He peaked late in his career, winning two World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays and finished as runner-up in MVP voting in his age-36 season. 

5. Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is bound to climb this list in the coming years. Already the first DH to win MVP, Ohtani is tied with Thomas for the second-best wRC+ among designated hitters. 

6. Yordan Alvarez

Yordan Alvarez’s 162 wRC+ is eight points better than any other DH in MLB history. Alvarez erupted onto the big-league scene by winning Rookie of the Year in 2019 and was named an All-Star in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

7. Edwin Encarnacion

From 2012 to 2019, Edwin Encarnacion had a 138 OPS+ and averaged 37.1 home runs per season. Unlucky to only be named an All-Star three times during that period, Encarnacion received MVP votes in five different seasons.

8. Nelson Cruz

Nelson Cruz, like Encarnacion, peaked as a hitter in his 30s. Between 2013 and 2021, Cruz was named an All-Star six times and had a 145 OPS+. He averaged 43.5 home runs per 162 games across that spell. 

9. Harold Baines

A contact hitter who averaged 22 home runs per 162 games, Harold Baines was never a popular pick to hit a home run when constructing baseball parlays. 

Baines is seventh all-time in fWAR from primary DHs, but I think he was very fortunate to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. 

10. J.D. Martinez

Aside from a down year in the shortened 2020 season, J.D. Martinez was one of the best overall hitters in baseball between 2014 and 2023. Martinez averaged 37.1 home runs per season, had a .293 batting average, and posted a 141 OPS+ over that period. 

11. Marcell Ozuna

Marcell Ozuna only switched from left field to DH late in his career. The change coincided with the best offensive seasons of his career, resulting in a fourth-place MVP finish in 2024. 

12. Giancarlo Stanton

When healthy, Giancarlo Stanton was among the MLB betting odds favourites for NL MVP in during his time with the Miami Marlins. 

Stanton won the award in his final season in Miami before being traded to the New York Yankees, where he has primarily been a DH. A five-time All-Star with an OPS+ of 136, Stanton is one of the best power hitters of the 21st century. 

13. Travis Hafner

Of DHs to play over 500 big-league games, only seven have a better wRC+ than Travis Hafner. A 12-year career is shorter than most other players on this list, so Hafner only hit 213 home runs, but his peak was impressive. He led the majors in OPS+ in 2006. 

14. Victor Martinez

Victor Martinez led the AL in OPS in 2014 and finished second in MVP voting. Unproductive seasons at the beginning and end of his career dragged down his overall numbers, but he posted a 128 OPS+ between 2004 and 2014. 

15. Khris Davis

Khris Davis was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball in the 2010s. He had four consecutive seasons with a .247 batting average, and the final three of those campaigns also included 40-plus home runs.