Who will be the Dominican Republic’s next good MLB designated hitter?

Nelson Cruz has established himself as MLB’s best designated hitter in recent seasons, but with his final years as an active player fast approaching, the question remains who can fill the role of the next great Dominican Major League designated hitter.

The designated hitter role has been a position filled with controversy in the Major Leagues due to its nature. A player whose role is to bat, but not play defense, is viewed with distaste by many baseball traditionalists, while others with a different, offensively inclined version point out that the position brings a bat of respect to the lineup, while protecting pitchers from exposure to being hit or injured while taking turns at bat.

Regardless of where you stand in the designated hitter debate, there is no doubt that, since his emergence in the American League in 1973, he has had a tremendous impact on the way baseball is played and has helped prolong the careers of some of the best hitters the sport has ever seen.

The Dominican has had three of the league’s most productive designated hitters, including David Ortiz, considered by many to be the best at the position, surpassing even the legendary Edgar Martinez, who held the position for most of his career and went into the Hall of Fame.

Like Ortiz, Nelson Cruz is performing spectacular feats at the position, establishing himself as the best designated hitter in the Major Leagues today, despite being 40 years old. While another outfielder, Edwin Encarnacion, has taken advantage of the position to hit more than 400 home runs and tow more than 1,200 laps.

However, with Encarnacion out of the Major Leagues for now and Nelson Cruz’s career nearing its end, it is important to ask who will fill the position of the Dominican Republic’s next great MLB designated hitter.

Several players have the offensive ability to do so, or at least have proven to have the tools to be productive at the position, while others, who continue to play defense at first base or in the outfield, could transition to the position as their careers progress.

Gary Sanchez, for example, could be one of those men. Known for his offensive ability, rather than his defensive prowess, the New York Yankees catcher’s bat is one of the most feared and respected. If his defensive problems continue to present themselves, the chances of him being used more frequently as a designated hitter increase significantly.

“El Rodillo,” Ronald Guzman, has played first base for virtually his entire career with the Texas Rangers. Since first base is not a guaranteed position for him with the team, there is a chance he could start seeing more time as a designated hitter, but his offensive production should increase.

Yermín Mercedes has had a sensational start to his career, becoming the first player since 1900 to date to start his career as a starter with eight consecutive hits. On a team where every position is filled by solid starters, Mercedes has been slotted in as the designated hitter and has made the most of his opportunities. He has done the same in Dominican winter baseball, where he is a member of the Tigres del Licey.

Two established stars who could fill that position are Chicago White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez and Juan Soto, considered by many to be one of the best hitters in the MLB. In the case of Jimenez, he is already in the American League, so the change would not be very difficult, but Soto, as a member of the Washington Nationals, is in the National League and, unless the universal designated hitter is established, it would not be possible for him to make the transition to the position, unless he decides to go to an American League team, once his rookie contract ends.