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The designated hitter spot, or DH, in the MLB, is important. It's the one position where one has to be a good hitter above all else, although some teams don't have great players manning the position every day. Here are the best of the best right now heading into the 2025 season.
Top 10 DHs in MLB right now
10) Masataka Yoshida
Masataka Yoshida is one of the best designated hitters in the MLB. This year, he's one of just 11 players at the position projected to record 1.2 fWAR or more. The Boston Red Sox left fielder had a 115 wRC+ last year, and he's poised for another strong offensive campaign.
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9) Giancarlo Stanton
His regular season was a little underwhelming, but the playoffs proved that Giancarlo Stanton can still hit. The New York Yankees star won the ALCS MVP and had a couple of mammoth home runs against the LA Dodgers in the World Series, too.
8) Christian Yelich
Christian Yelich is projected to record the eighth-most fWAR among DHs in 2025. Last year, the Milwaukee Brewers left fielder had an excellent 153 wRC+ in 73 games despite getting hurt. He's expected to primarily serve as DH this year.
7) Seiya Suzuki
Projected 1.7 fWAR, Seiya Suzuki is expected once again to be one of the best DHs in baseball. He's moving out of the outfield where he's struggled for Kyle Tucker, and he gives the Chicago Cubs a great option at DH.
6) Joc Pederson
Perhaps one of the most underrated signings of the offseason, Joc Pederson is a top DH. He's projected 1.8 fWAR, but the newest Texas Rangers slugger had a 132 wRC+ last season.
5) Marcell Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna was an MVP candidate for much of last season. The Atlanta Braves star is projected to have a 2.2 fWAR after competing for the Triple Crown in the National League in 2024.
4) Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber cannot play defense, but it doesn't matter at DH. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger is projected to have a 2.6 fWAR this season, the fourth-most at the spot. Last season, he had a sterling 3.4 in 150 games.
3) Brent Rooker
Brent Rooker was a top-10 hitter in baseball last year. The Athletics star recorded an impressive 5.1 fWAR last year and had a 164 wRC+ in a true breakout year, netting himself a lucrative extension.
2) Yordan Alvarez
For years, Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez has been the best DH in baseball. Since 2019, his debut year, he has been second in all of baseball, with 166 wRC+. Only Aaron Judge has a better mark since then. This year, he's projected the second most fWAR among DHs.
1) Shohei Ohtani
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani won't be a full-time DH this year, as he will also split time pitching. That undoubtedly means his offensive production will go down, but he's still coming off a season worth more than 9.0 fWAR and 50 homers/50 steals for the first time.
