Adopted into the league in 1973, the role of a designated hitter in baseball is to replace the pitcher in the batting order with another player in the line-up. Designated hitters can come into the game later on and take up one of the defensive positions, including the pitching role, but must be named before the start of the game. This makes strategizing an important factor when assigning a designated hitter in MLB The Show 24, as it can be the difference between victory and defeat.

The designated hitter must focus on primarily offensive-minded statistics, as their main area of expertise should be all about swinging the bat and hearing the crack as the ball makes contact. The more a player can get on base and drive in runs, the better their chances of being named a designated hitter for the game. In MLB The Show 24, these players are the very best at this role, and while they may fall short on the defensive side of the game, they'll be key to stepping in during the bottom of the ninth for that glorious walk-off home run that wins the game.

10 Charlie Blackmon

MLB The Show Rating: 73

• Team: Colorado Rockies
• BattingHandiness: Left-Handed
• Main Strengths: Batting Clutch, Durability, and Arm Accuracy

As a four-time All Star and two-time Silver Slugger recipient, Charlie Blackmon is one of the Colorado Rockies go-to players when they need a run scored. Playing for the Rockies since 2011, Blackmon has accumulated nine 100-hit seasons and reached double digits for home runs in eight of them. Reflected in his stats in MLB The Show 24, Blackmon has a 96 contact rating against left-handed pitchers.

His Arm Strength hitting 84 gives him the power he needs to drive balls deep enough to reach first base and put himself into a position to score. Since Blackmon will be used as a designated hitter, his lack of defensive awareness won't hurt players when they add him to the batting order. Get Blackmon to the plate and watch him smash line drives, piling up singles and doubles and soaring his RBI numbers.

9 Eloy Jimenez

MLB The Show Rating: 73

• Team: Chicago White Sox
• Batting Handiness: Right-Handed
• Main Strengths: Batting Clutch, Contact L, and Contact R

In just five seasons, Eloy Jimenez already has one Silver Slugger to his name, and placed fourth in voting for Rookie of the Year back in 2019. In that year, he smashed 125 hits and 31 home runs, giving the Chicago White Sox fans something to cheer about. His power swing against left-handed and right-handed pitchers is good enough to be a home-run threat in MLB The Show 24, but his contact, specifically against right-handed pitchers, is one of his best weapons.

In terms of Batting Clutch, Jimenez scores an 84, making him capable of outlasting high pitch counts and making contact with pitches that are just outside the strike zone. For a designated hitter, this stat is especially important, as their main job is to get on base. Career-wise, Jimenez is at just over one hit per game, making him a lock for a trip to the bases and the possibility of batting in a run or two during each outing.

8 Harold Ramirez

MLB The Show Rating: 74

• Team: Tampa Bay Rays
• Batting Handiness: Right-Handed
• Main Strengths: Contact L, Batting Clutch, and Durability

Harold Ramirez has become quite the journeyman in his short career, playing for three teams in six years. Having found a permanent home with the Tampa Bay Rays for the last three seasons, Ramirez has built a reputation as a reliable designated hitter that rarely fails to get on base at least once per game. Against left-handed pitchers, Ramirez has a contact swing rating of 99, while that number drops to 80 against right-handed pitchers.

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With a strong Batting Clutch and Durability rating, Ramirez can stay in long games and go to bat multiple times in a single game without breaking a sweat. Ramirez is also good at reading pitches and judging when it's best to swing and make contact, and with the right perks for a two-way player that focuses on offense, Ramirez could be one of the best hitters in MLB The Show 24, let alone on a Rays team that's built on offense.

7 Joey Meneses

MLB The Show Rating: 75

• Team: Washington Nationals
• Batting Handiness: Right-Handed
• Main Strengths: Batting Clutch, Durability, and Contact L

Entering the league as a player hits his 30s isn't common to see, but it's exactly what Joey Meneses did in his rookie season with the Washington Nationals. Meneses combined for 240 hits in his first two seasons in Washington, becoming a notable designated hitter in the National League. While Menses can play multiple positions, including second base, left field, and right field, his defensive stats lack the depth to be a full-time roster player.

However, as a designated hitter, Meneses slots into the Nationals batting order and is easily one of their most consistent players. His contact swing is formidable against both left and right-handed pitchers, and Meneses can also devastate those lefties with his 87-rated power swing. Players may find that Meneses will swing wildly at pitches, as he lacks the Plate Disicpline like other designated hitters, but is effective against pitchers that rely on their fastball.

6 Giancarlo Stanton

MLB The Show Rating: 77

• Team: New York Yankees
• BattingHandiness: Right-Handed
• Main Strengths: Power L, Power R, and Contact L

Outside a World Series victory, there isn't much Giancarlo Stanton hasn't done at the major league level. League MVP, 5-time All Star, All-Star MVP, 2-time Silver Slugger, and a Home Run Derby Championship to boot. Stanton brings one thing to the table, and that's pure batting power. At the age of 34, Stanton has 1500 hits to his name, and that number continues to climb as a member of the New York Yankees.

If it wasn't for lackluster Fielding and Reaction stats, Stanton would be a decent outfielder in MLB The Show 24. Thankfully, while he falls short on defense, he brings the heat once he steps up to the plate. Stanton is pure power, rocking a 96 power rating against right-handed pitchers and an 87 power rating against lefties. With a Batting Clutch of 80, Stanton won't be striking out very often.

5 Andrew McCutchen

MLB The Show Rating: 78

• Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
• Batting Handiness: Right-Handed
• Main Strengths: Discipline, Durability, and Speed

Approaching his 40s, Andrew McCutchen is still one of the better designated hitters in the MLB, and continues to rank highly in the MLB The Show franchise as well. It's hard to ignore his credentials: 4-time Silver Slugger, 5-time All Star, League MVP, and a Gold Glove, and he doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon. Even defensively, McCutchen still brings in stats that are sufficient to take to the outfield and help the Pittsburgh Pirates out.

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McCutchen's main strength is his match-up against left-handed pitchers. His contact swing has a solid 71 rating while his power swing sits at a whopping 93. Despite his age, McCutchen still brings a valuable 82 Durability rating, and his 98 Plate Discipline will keep players from making poor attempts at swinging at balls on the outside. When the Pirates are in a pinch and need an extra run or two, McCutchen is the guy to do it.

4 Marcell Ozuna

MLB The Show Rating: 80

• Team: Atlanta Braves
• Batting Handiness: Right-Handed
• Main Strengths: Power L, Power R, and Durability

Another veteran continuing to impress and rank highly in the hitting department is Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves. Despite dealing with some wrist and abdominal injuries over the last two seasons, Ozuna has come back stronger than ever with 145 hits in 2023, his best stretch in the last five seasons. Due to his lack of Durability and sub-par defensive play during the later stages of his career, Ozuna is best served as a member of the batting order only.

Ozuna is all power, combining an 85 rating against righties and 98 against lefties, sure to make the night of any pitcher he faces a miserable one. His Batting Clutch stat of 72 is just good enough to send him out in the bottom of the ninth, with the game on the line. The only downside to his plate appearance is his lack of vision, which may hurt players' chances at connecting with some of the more difficult MLB The Show 24 pitches that the CPU will rely on.

3 Byron Buxton

MLB The Show Rating: 86

• Team: Minnesota Twins
• Batting Handiness: Right-Handed
• Main Strengths: Power R, Speed, and Fielding

A monumental leap from the previously listed designated hitters to the top three kicks off with Byron Buxton, one of the more thrilling players to use in MLB The Show 24. Buxton's decade of excellency with the Minnesota Twins has been one to take note of, as the 30-year-old center-fielder combines strong defensive play with the ability to crush balls into the second deck. Buxton was the 2017 Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year.

Buxton has an impressive 89 Fielding stat that pairs well with his 80 Arm Strength, which means players will instinctively get to balls hit into the outfield faster, and have the strength to get them back into play and minimize the damage. At the plate, Buxton has nearly identical power swing stats on both sides, and is one of the few designated hitters to sneak in an 83 Bunt stat. Buxton is also one of the fastest players on this list with a 90 Speed rating, which bodes well for his ability to make it on base.

2 Bryce Harper

MLB The Show Rating: 91

• Team: Philadelphia Phillies
• Batting Handiness: Left-Handed
• Main Strengths: Discipline, Contact R, and Batting Clutch

In 10 seasons of his 13-year career, Bryce Harper has managed to hit the 20-mark in home runs as a member of the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies. Although he's pushing past the final years of his prime, Harper can still make a dent in the batting order on one of the best teams in MLB The Show 24. Combining a serviceable effort on the defensive end in the outfield, Harper is a player many will enjoy using during a season.

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Known more as a contact swing expert at this stage in his career, Harper will give right-handed pitchers a hard time. Harper's combination of 99 Plate Discipline and 90 Batting Clutch will give him all he needs to stay in high pitch counts and come through for the Phillies when they're down by a run or two. He may not have the best vision to complete perfect swings, but his abilities are more than suitable for a player that can flirt with 150 hits in one season.

1 Shohei Ohtani

MLB The Show Rating: 99

• Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Batting Handiness: Left-Handed
• Main Strengths: Power R, Contact R, and Arm Strength

For a second consecutive year, Shohei Ohtani receives a perfect 99 overall rating in the MLB The Show franchise. For good reason too, as Ohtani has achieved greatness before the age of 30, which includes two Silver Slugger awards, two League MVP wins, three All-Star appearances, and the 2018 Rookie of the Year. Although he left the Los Angeles Angels for their mortal enemy, the Dodgers, Ohtani made bank by signing a 10-year, $700 million contract.

Ohtani isn't just the best designated hitter, he also happens to be the best pitcher in MLB The Show 24, spreading out his strengths with impressive Velocity, Break, Pitching Clutch, and Arm Strength. Not only can he strike out some of the best hitters in the league, he eclipses their production once he steps up to the plate. Ohtani possesses an excellent power swing against both right and left-handed pitchers, and his 93 Plate Discipline and 88 Batting Clutch gives him plenty of opportunity to smash pitches out of the park.

MLB The Show 24

Platform(s)

PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released

March 19, 2024

Developer(s)

San Diego Studio

Genre(s)

Sports

See at Official Site