Buster Olney Ranks MLB Top 10 Designated Hitters: Does Anyone Beat Ohtani?

Buster Olney concludes his positional deep dive by ranking the top 10 designated hitters, focusing on Shohei Ohtani rankings and the league's most powerful bats.

Buster Olney’s final positional countdown identifies Shohei Ohtani as the premier designated hitter in Major League Baseball heading into the 2024 campaign. This evaluation concludes a multi-part series where the ESPN analyst polled league executives, scouts, and evaluators to determine the hierarchy of talent at every spot on the diamond. The list prioritizes offensive metrics such as OPS+, home run frequency, and weighted runs created plus (wRC+) to distinguish the elite from the average.

Behind the Japanese superstar, Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros secures the second position. Alvarez posted a .990 OPS during the previous season, cementing his status as one of the most feared left-handed bats in the American League. His ability to drive the ball to all fields with exit velocities exceeding 110 miles per hour makes him the primary challenger to the top spot. The gap between the first and second ranks remains narrow, as both players possess the rare ability to change the complexion of a game with a single swing.

Bryce Harper occupies the third slot on this list, reflecting his transition to a full-time offensive role while recovering from elbow surgery. The Philadelphia Phillies cornerstone maintained a .401 on-base percentage, proving that his plate discipline remains sharp despite the lack of defensive reps. Olney’s rankings emphasize that the designated hitter role has evolved from a retirement home for aging veterans into a strategic position for franchise pillars.

In the fourth position, Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves makes a significant appearance following a 40-home run season. Ozuna’s resurgence in 2023 saw him drive in 100 runs, a feat that propelled the Braves to a historic offensive output. His presence in the middle of the order provided the necessary protection for Ronald Acuña Jr., illustrating the tactical importance of a high-slugging DH.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees lands at number five, despite a dip in his batting average. Evaluators still value his raw power, noting that his barrel rate remains among the highest in the sport. When healthy, Stanton’s ability to generate triple-digit exit speeds ensures he remains a fixture in any discussion regarding the league’s most dangerous hitters.

Rounding out the bottom half of the top ten are players like Jorge Soler and Eloy Jimenez, who provide consistent power for their respective clubs. Soler’s 36 homers in the previous year earned him a spot as a premier free-agent target, while Jimenez continues to showcase a high ceiling when he avoids the injured list. These rankings serve as a definitive guide for the upcoming season, highlighting that while many can hit, few can dominate the box like the names on this list. The Shohei Ohtani rankings remain the focal point, as he enters a new chapter with the Los Angeles Dodgers, carrying a record-breaking contract and the expectations of a global audience.