2007 Designated Hitter Rankings

2007 Top 5 DH Rankings


David Ortiz

1. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

2006 stats: .287 average, 558 at-bats, 115 runs, 54 home runs, 137 RBI, 29 doubles, 2 triples, 1 stolen base, 119 walks, 117 strikeouts, 151 games

2007 outlook: In 2006, Ortiz increased his home run total for the sixth consecutive season. Since joining the Red Sox, Ortiz has averaged 43 home runs and a ridiculous 131 RBI. He has a .315 batting average during his four years in Boston. He and Manny Ramirez are ready to dominate in the heart of the order, producing another solid season for "Big Papi."

2. Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians

2006 stats: .308 average, 454 at-bats, 100 runs, 42 home runs, 117 RBI, 31 doubles, 1 triple, 0 stolen bases, 100 walks, 111 strikeouts, 129 games

2007 outlook: Hafner posted a monster season ahead of an injury that terminated his year on September 1. He hit a new career mark with 42 home runs, 117 RBI and 100 runs scored. Hafner has become one of the game's most prominent power players, having averaged 34 home runs, 73.7 extra-base hits and 111 RBI in the last three seasons. He slammed 17 home runs in 46 games after the All-Star break before his injury. Expect another huge season in 2007 for Hafner, and hope he does not get another freak injury.

3. Jim Thome, Chicago White Sox

2006 stats: .288 average, 490 at-bats, 108 runs, 42 home runs, 109 RBI, 26 doubles, 0 triples, 0 stolen bases, 107 walks, 147 strikeouts, 143 games

2007 outlook: Thome rebounded from an injury-shortened 2005 season with a monster effort for the White Sox in 2006. He posted the sixth 40-home run and ninth 100-RBI season of his career. Thome raced out of the gate with two huge months, during which he hit 20 home runs and drove in 49 runs. In fact, 30 of his 42 home runs and 77 of his 109 RBI came ahead of the All-Star break. A second-half slowdown for the 36-year-old slugger is something to be aware of, but his overall production will still be solid in a potent Chicago lineup.

4. Frank Thomas, Oakland Athletics

2006 stats: .270 average, 466 at-bats, 77 runs, 39 home runs, 114 RBI, 11 doubles, 0 triples, 0 stolen bases, 81 walks, 81 strikeouts, 137 games

2007 outlook: The big question regarding Thomas upon arrival to Toronto is his health. He's played in 74 or fewer games in three of the last six seasons. When he's played a full season (2002, 2003 and 2006), Thomas has averaged 36.3 home runs and 103.6 RBI between Chicago and Oakland. He's no longer the batting average king that we witnessed in the 1990s, but the power totals are there when he's healthy. Thomas will enjoy hitting in the AL East, where he's posted phenomenal seasons. He owns a lifetime batting average of .331 at Fenway Park, .287 at Yankee Stadium, .289 at Camden Yards and .337 at Tropicana Field. In a lineup with Troy Glaus and Vernon Wells, Thomas is most certainly a threat to touch his three-year average in healthy years. It's just a matter of health.

5. Jonny Gomes, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

2006 stats: .216 average, 385 at-bats, 53 runs, 20 home runs, 59 RBI, 21 doubles, 1 triple, 1 stolen base, 61 walks, 116 strikeouts, 117 games

2007 outlook: Gomes started the 2006 season with a bang, slamming 11 home runs with 23 RBI and a .305 batting average in April. He struggled terribly after May 1, hitting .191 with nine home runs and just 36 RBI. Gomes looks to forget those issues and get back to the swing that has generated back-to-back 20-home run seasons. He should settle somewhere between his .282 batting average of 2005 and .216 of 2006 while hitting 20 plus HR.