top of page
file.jpg
Writer's pictureSSTN Admin

The Determinator: Designated Hitters: #1-5 + Honorable Mentions

Before every season, baseball minds across the sport test their skills with crunching numbers, diving deep into analytics, and reviewing game footage in order to determine who the best players are in the game. Often times they give their analysis fun names; one of the most notable being The Shredder from MLB Network.

Welcome to The Determinator.

Today I will reveal the Top-5 Designated Hitters in the MLB, as well as explaining my methodology for these rankings. This will be the last iteration of The Determinator as we head into the 2020 season.

 

The Determinator: My General Methodology

The Determinator is a ranking system that is built upon the analyzation of 16 carefully chosen stats through a very simplistic system of comparisons. Some of these stats are more classical (Games Played, Home Runs, etc.), others are more advanced (wRC+, WAR, etc.). From this come 7 offensive stats, 4 defensive, 2 baserunning, and 3 general stats, set to contribute towards the importance of each part of the game.

The Offensive stats are: AVG/OBP/SLG, wRC, wRC+, HR, and Off (Fangraphs)

The Defensive stats are: Fielding, DRS, UZR (or Framing for Catchers), and Def (Fangraphs)

The Baserunning stats are: Stolen Bases and BsR (Fangraphs)

The Overall stats are: Games Played, Innings at Position, and fWAR (Fangraphs)

After determining this list of statistics, I then had to input each into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet I sorted how each player did in each statistic from best-to-worst. If you were top 5 in a category, you got ranked as a ‘Green’. Top 6-10 was a ‘Yellow’. And, Top 11-15 was labelled as a ‘Red’. The number of each ranking was counted- so it was possible to come out with a score of zero- and given values of 5, 3, and 1 respectively.

Key Note: If player/s across a statistic had the same numbers across a border- for example the 5th and 6th players with the most Home Runs- then they would both be counted as the better ranking- in this case both ‘Green’ or 5 points- and replace one spot from the following ranking- in this case a ‘Yellow’ or 3 points. This could also stretch some statistics to include more ‘Red’ players who had equal stats to the 15th best.

Additionally, if no stats were recorded in a counting statistic that could fit into a ranking- as is seen with Catchers and Stolen Bases- then no ranking is given to those players. This would greatly increase the number of points given out, and lessen the value of each point. This is not true for advanced metrics that can produce negative values- as is seen with Catchers and BsR.

The results were then tallied, sorted from greatest to least, and a ranking was created.

Finally, player age, 2020 salary, and contract status, were all not considered in this experiment. This is entirely statistic-based.

 

The Determinator: Designated Hitter-Specific Information

To easily work through and cut-down the list of 37 different players who played any amount of time at designated hitter during the season, I set-up two separate boundaries for designated hitters:


They must’ve had at least 250 PA’s during the 2019 season as a DH.


No defensive-related metrics (Fld, Innnings, DRS, UZR, Def) were evaluated for DH’s.

This limited the number of designated hitters down to 20.

However, without further ado, let’s get to numbers 1 through 5:

If a player led a statistic for their position, it will be bolded.

 

Number 4 (Tied): Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Rangers

Top-5: Games, OBP, SB, wRC, BsR

Top-10: AVG, HR, wRC+, Off, WAR

Top-15: SLG

In 2018, Shin-Soo Choo played into his first (and so far only) All-Star game in his career, ultimately played to a nearly identical level to that again in 2019. Choo’s stand-outs across the DH position come in his speed, as he led all DH’s in SB (15) and BsR (3.8). In 2019, Choo did accumulate 688.2 innings across both RF and LF, which takes away a little bit of his “true DH” standings, yet this wasn’t the most amount of fielding innings by a DH on this list. Add in his time in the Outfield, and Choo’s numbers look right in line for what a team would want out of a DH, with an offensive player who has better than average numbers across the board: 0.265/0.371/0.454, 24 HR’s, wRC/wRC+ of 102/112, and an Off of 13.8. Now going into his age 37 season, Choo’s career is definitely reaching it’s end, but up to this point he is the greatest Korean MLB player ever. And, unless Hyun-Jin Ryu’s 2019 is indicative of him being a new player, Choo should stand as the best Korean MLB player for a while.

 

Number 4 (Tied): Nelson Cruz, Minnesota Twins

Top-5: AVG, OBP, SLG, HR, wRC, wRC+, Off, WAR

Top-10: N/A

Top-15: Games

Now, the perfect counter to me saying “Shin-Soo Choo is getting old, his career may be over soon” would be to look at the other DH he tied with: Nelson Cruz. However, the two have aged very differently, despite having pretty similar career outputs at this point (Choo’s 35.4 fWAR to Cruz’s 37.5, both over 15 seasons). Now, Cruz has the added benefit of using PED’s, being suspended for 50 games in 2013, which seems to have had a serious effect on his longevity (and increase in performance). Including his 2013 season, Cruz has made the All-Star Game in 5 of 7 seasons, along with 25.5 fWAR (27.9 fWAR) from his age 32 to 38 season, with nearly an average of 40 HR’s per season as well. Obviously, Cruz is an exceptional offensive talent (37.7) and this plays well into his accumulation of WAR (4.3)- both stats he led amongst DH’s- even in only 120 games. What to expect in 2020? Probably more of the same.

 

Number 3: Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays

Top-5: AVG, SLG, SB, wRC, wRC+, Off, WAR

Top-10: Games, OBP, HR, BsR

Top-15: N/A

Austin Meadows is much the opposite of Nelson Cruz, as he is 14 years younger at 24-years old and still plays in the field (773 innings in the OF). Like Choo, he is an interesting player to consider a DH, but according to Fangraphs sorting according to The Determinator’s boundaries, Meadows makes the list and makes a case as one of the best in the MLB. While his value would seem to be heightened by his defensive values that he accumulated while playing on the field, it seems as though it didn’t play a major factor as he had a total Def of -10.3. His overall numbers show an above average hitter with solid power and ability to get on base, which led him towards the following: 0.291/0.364/0.558, with 33 HR’s, a wRC/wRC+ of 105/142, Off of 31, and fWAR of 4.0.

 

Number 2: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

Top-5: Games, AVG, OBP, SLG, HR, wRC, wRC+, Off, WAR

Top-10: SB

Top-15: N/A

After a 2018 season where J.D. Martinez came close to the Triple Crown and won the Silver Slugger at two different positions (OF and DH), he had lofty expectations for his 2019 campaign. While a regression was imminent, Martinez still had great value as a DH (3.2 fWAR). He ultimately decided not to exercise an opt-out clause earlier this offseason, sticking with his remaining 3-Years at $62.5 Million contract, which was probably the right move for a primary DH. He did play 308 innings in the outfield during the 2019 season, but given his very poor defensive values (-18.1), it is probably best he sticks at the bat-only position. There honestly isn’t much to say about Martinez, as his value is pretty well cemented over the past few seasons, with expectations that he hits above .300 with around a .385 OBP and around a .570 SLG will continue to follow him until his peak is through. In 2019, Martinez just about replicated these numbers: 0.304/0.383/0.557, with 36 HR’s, a DH-leading wRC of 120 (wRC+ of 139), and an Off of 28.

 

Number 1: Jorge Soler, Kansas City Royals

Top-5: Games, SLG, HR, SB, wRC, wRC+, Off, WAR

Top-10: AVG, OBP, BsR

Top-15: N/A

It’s almost as if I couldn’t have picked a better day to announce this list, as the city of Kansas City can now officially celebrate, as this may be a more important milestone than winning a Super Bowl: placing a player at the top of The Determinator’s DH list. (Obviously, I kid.) Jokes aside, Jorge Soler is a fantastic player, and at only 27-years old, should continue to see his production go up. Like many other players on this list, he wasn’t only a DH in 2019, as he played 447.1 innings in the outfield, of which produced very bad defense (-17.2). However, his offense was near the tops across his position, as he led in games played (162), HR’s (48), and wRC (120). Combine this with a triple-slash of 0.265/0.354/0.569 along with a wRC+ of 136, Off of 30.6, and fWAR of 3.6.

 

Honorable Mentions:

As there were only 20 total DH’s to evaluate in this selection, there are a fair amount of notable honorable mentions. Let’s see them:


Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros – DH Leader at AVG (0.313), OBP (0.412), SLG (0.655), wRC+ (178), Scored 37 Points, Ranked #6


Hunter Pence, Texas Rangers – Scored 32 Points, Ranked #7


Edwin Encarnacion, Chicago White Sox – Scored 29 Points, Ranked #8


Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels – Scored 28 Points, Ranked #9


Luke Voit, New York Yankees – Scored 26 Points, Ranked #10 (see more about Voit in 1B #1-5)


Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers – Scored 11 Points, Ranked #16


Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics – Scored 5 Points, Ranked #18

 

Reminder:

The Determinator is a way I used to determine the best players at each position. Like any metric or formula, I am sure it has flaws. No statistical compilation is perfect. That being said, The Determinator, seems pretty effective at assigning player values. I’m pleased with what I have found using this method and hope this is a conversation starter for many.

Click here to see the #1-5 First Basemen (+ Honorable Mentions), and here for the #6-10 First Basemen.

Click here to see the #1-5 Second Basemen (+ Honorable Mentions), and here for the #6-10 Second Basemen.

Click here to see the #1-5 Third Basemen (+ Honorable Mentions), and here for the #6-10 Third Basemen.

Click here to see the #1-5 Shortstops (+ Honorable Mentions), and here for the #6-10 Shortstops.

Click here to see the #1-5 Left Fielders (+ Honorable Mentions), and here for the #6-10 Left Fielders.

Click here to see the #1-5 Right Fielders (+ Honorable Mentions), and here for the #6-10 Right Fielders.

Comments

Couldn’t Load Comments
It looks like there was a technical problem. Try reconnecting or refreshing the page.
dr sem.png

Start Spreading the News is the place for some of the very best analysis and insight focusing primarily on the New York Yankees.

(Please note that we are not affiliated with the Yankees and that the news, perspectives, and ideas are entirely our own.)

blog+image+2.jpeg

Have a question for the Weekly Mailbag?

Click below or e-mail:

SSTNReaderMail@gmail.com

SSTN is proudly affiliated with Wilson Sporting Goods! Check out our press release here, and support us by using the affiliate links below:

587611.jpg
583250.jpg
Scattering the Ashes.jpeg

"Scattering The Ashes has all the feels. Paul Russell Semendinger's debut novel taps into every emotion. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll reexamine those relationships that give your life meaning." — Don Burke, writer at The New York Post

The Least Among Them.png

"This charming and meticulously researched book will remind you of baseball’s power to change and enrich lives far beyond the diamond."

—Jonathan Eig, New York Times best-selling author of Luckiest Man, Opening Day, and Ali: A Life

From Compton to the Bronx.jpg

"A young man from Compton rises to the highest levels of baseball greatness.

Considered one of the classiest baseball players ever, this is Roy White's story, but it's also the story of a unique period in baseball history when the Yankees fell from grace and regained glory and the country dealt with societal changes in many ways."

foco-yankees.png

We are excited to announce our new sponsorship with FOCO for all officially licensed goods!

FOCO Featured:
carlos rodon bobblehead foco.jpg
bottom of page