Who is the greatest Designated Hitter?
Frank Thomas is the greatest designated hitter in baseball history.
Which Designated Hitters are in the Hall of Fame?
Frank Thomas, David Ortiz, Edgar Martinez, and Harold Baines are enshrined primarily as DHs. The Hall of Fame lists Paul Molitor as a third baseman, but he played almost 400 more games as a DH.
Who is the greatest Designated Hitter since World War II?
Since the position was created in 1973, Frank Thomas is statistically the most dominant hitter to play the DH position significantly.
Who has the highest WAR as a Designated Hitter?
Edgar Martinez has the highest career WAR among players who spent the majority of their career strictly as a DH. We have a list of All-Time WAR Leaders for Designated Hitters.
Have the Dodgers and Yankees had famous DHs?
The Yankees had players like Don Baylor and Hideki Matsui, while the Dodgers now feature Shohei Ohtani as their premier DH.
Is Shohei Ohtani considered a Designated Hitter?
Yes, when he is not pitching, Shohei Ohtani is an elite Designated Hitter, winning MVPs for his two-way performance.
Who was the first Designated Hitter inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Frank Thomas was the first player who played more games at DH than in the field to be inducted. Others inducted who were primarily DH’s are Paul Molitor, Edgar Martinez, and Harold Baines.
Who hit the most home runs as a DH?
David Ortiz holds the record for the most home runs hit while in the DH lineup spot.
When was the Designated Hitter rule adopted?
The American League adopted the DH rule in 1973; the National League adopted it permanently in 2022.
