The full-time DH isn't a thing anymore

Compared to last season, the Mariners have a chance to receive much better production from the designated hitter spot in 2023. Just don't expect the team to use a full-timer to make it happen.

Throughout this offseason, there’s been tremendous discourse surrounding several positions in the Seattle Mariners’ lineup. One spot receiving heavy scrutiny is designated hitter (DH).

As has been the case in recent years, Mariners management intends on using a variety of position players at DH. But some fans (and local radio hosts) have spent the winter pining for a full-time DH.

An understandable sentiment considering there’s a statue outside T-Mobile Park honoring the first full-time DH voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame - Edgar Martinez. And who can forget the exploits of Nelson Cruz as the team’s regular DH between 2015 and 2018?

There’s no denying the greatness of Edgar and “Boomstick” and their impact on the Mariners franchise. However, the full-time DH is an endangered species. In 2022, just three players amassed 500-plus plate appearances at the position - Cruz, J.D. Martinez, and Shohei Ohtani.

These days, it takes a village

The average number of designated hitters used by teams last year was 17. The Mariners and Oakland Athletics led the way with 22. At the other end of the list, the Los Angeles Angels (9) used the fewest.

Most DH’s used in 2022
SEA (22)
OAK (22)
TEX (21)
NYM (21)
CIN (21)
ARI (21)
CHC (19)
STL (19)
SDP (19)

It turns out most clubs are relying on a DH rotation rather than a full-timer. The practice provides the opportunity to get multiple players off their feet on a regular basis, while keeping their bat in the lineup.

The following table gives us a sense of how teams have used the DH position over the last 10 full seasons. It illustrates the number of designated hitters reaching the 200, 400, and 500 plate appearance milestones.

Through the 2021 campaign, designated hitters with 200-plus plate appearances generally hovered in the mid-to-lower teens. Last season, we saw a spike thanks to MLB adopting the universal DH. Something else about last year’s numbers stood out to me.

Even though teams using a DH on a daily basis doubled, the number of designated hitters with at least 400 or 500 plate appearances remained stable. In fact, 10 clubs didn’t have a player with at least 200 plate appearances at the position last year. This suggests to me that the strategy of spreading the workload across the roster is here to stay.

Thanks to a pair of in-season trades, two players actually recorded the most plate appearances at DH with two different teams in 2022. Franmil Reyes led the Chicago Cubs (189) and Cleveland Guardians (233). Former Mariner Daniel Vogelbach paced the Pittsburgh Pirates (256) and New York Mets (177).

The few, the proud, the not so productive?

In 2022, just seven players accounted for 50-percent or greater of their club’s DH plate appearances. You’ll recognize the names, although not all of them enjoyed a good season.

Only three of our seven hitters had an above-average wRC+ as a designated hitter - J.D. Martinez, Shohei Ohtani, and Bryce Harper. This seems suboptimal considering the underperformers accounted for over half of their club’s plate appearances at an offense-only position.

Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) quantities how a hitter’s total offensive value compares with the league average after adjusting for park effects. League-average is always 100. Therefore, a wRC+ of 150 means a hitter was 50-percent more productive than the average player. An 80 wRC+ would be 20-percent below average.

With one notable exception, the players from the preceding table were likely pinned to DH duties due to defensive limitations. The outlier was Ohtani, who is an All-Star hitter and pitcher.

It’s worth noting Harper would normally play right field for the Philadelphia Phillies. However, an elbow injury forced the two-time MVP to serve as Philadelphia’s DH for the majority of the 2022 regular season and playoffs.

About those Mariners

We started by suggesting a segment of fans wanted the Mariners to find a full-time DH and get away from the committee used last season. But the quantity of hitters used wasn’t the issue. It was the quality of production delivered by the position.

In 2022, Seattle designated hitters collectively produced an 81 wRC+, which ranked 26th in MLB. An 81 wRC+ tells us the group was 19-percent below average, which sounds about right considering the outcomes delivered. So does a bottom-five ranking.

With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, it’s obvious the Mariners meted out too many DH opportunities to below-average hitters. In fact, five non-starters combined for 33.8-percent of Seattle’s DH plate appearances and very poor production.

Underperformers with 25+ at PA’s as DH
Abraham Toro (80)
Kyle Lewis (45)
Justin Upton (39)
Mike Ford (31)
Luis Torrens (28)

All told, the preceding five players hit five home runs and a .154 AVG/.256 OBP/.272 SLG slash-line in 223 DH plate appearances.

To garner better results in 2023, the Mariners will need to provide fewer DH opportunities to hitters who aren’t delivering results. Easier said than done. Especially when the injury bug bites and/or key players unexpectedly underperform.

Hi, Jesse Winker.

Having said that, a path to better DH results in 2023 does exist for the Mariners. But it appears to be narrow and winding. At least during the first weekend of February it looks that way.

A way forward

Last season, third baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Ty France combined for 109 plate appearances at DH. Upping this total likely benefits production at the position and potentially helps a pair of key performers known for staying available remain healthier into October.

Still, to make this happen the Mariners need Suárez’s and France’s understudies to be somewhat productive at the plate. Otherwise, the lineup won’t necessarily gain an advantage by having its regular corner infielders spending more time at DH.

The most prominent internal options to spell Suarez and France are Dylan Moore, Tommy La Stella, and Colin Moran.

Moore has limited big-league experience at first base and third base. But it’s important to note management has publicly stated the 30-year-old will likely spend more time at the two middle infield spots in 2023.

La Stella has predominantly played second base and third base during his nine-year career, although he does have 13 starts at first base since 2020. Ironically, the veteran had the most DH plate appearances (148) of any San Francisco Giant last year.

Moran, signed to a minor-league contract, has extensive experience at both corner infield spots in seven MLB seasons.

Maybe Evan White eventually plays a role in spotting France at first base. After a tough 2020 debut, the Gold Glove first baseman has endured several injuries and rehab setbacks. Now healthy, it’s plausible the 26-year-old finds his way back to the big-league club. First, he’ll have to demonstrate his body and bat are ready with Class-AAA Tacoma.

Manager Scott Servais likely finds opportunities to use newcomers Teoscar Hernández and AJ Pollock and budding superstar Julio Rodríguez at DH this season. Again, the players subbing for the trio must be able to deliver respectable results with their bats.

Perhaps the greatest chance for upgrading production at DH comes via Seattle’s catching depth.

The 2022 breakout of starter Cal Raleigh and return of backup Tom Murphy from injury could prompt Servais to use one of them behind the plate and the other as his DH in games. This practice would be made much easier if Cooper Hummel makes the roster as a third catcher/left fielder.

Finally

The Mariners allocating more DH plate appearances to the players we just mentioned should raise the floor of the position in 2023. And who knows? Maybe the front office adds another established bat to the mix by Opening Day or during the season.

Barring an injury to a Mariner like Harper’s, it’s highly improbable the team’s solution at DH involves a player filling the spot on a full-time basis. And that’s okay. Prolific designated hitters like Edgar Martinez, David Ortiz, and Nelson Cruz don’t exactly grow on trees.

Then again, Ohtani does project to be a free agent after the upcoming season.

My Oh My…