2021 MLB Draft Guide: Designated Hitters

An age-old question when filling out a roster remains if it's worth reaching for a utility-only player (designated hitter) or keeping the spot open for someone who can be used at other positions during the season. First, know your league's rules in this regard. Some sites require designated hitters only eligible at utility. However, Yahoo's carrying over positional eligibility from 2020 to this season, so some of the players below could be used in other spots. In NFBC formats, which CBS usually aligns with, at least seven games played in the field from last year needs to be on a resumé to be used there at the onset of 2021. 

With this in mind, designated hitters’ draft capital usually gets depressed, ask any Nelson Cruz believer the last two years. Using the NFBC eligibility rules to identify utility-only hitters, four clear tiers emerged. In deference to how guys may be valued on other sites for clarity purposes, this chart illustrates the average draft position (ADP) of ten players who come with the utility designation in NFBC drafts but with Fantasy Pros (F-Pros) listed as well. Following the NFBC column, the min. pick represents the earliest each player was taken in live drafts since the start of 2021 along with the max pick (latest): 

First Tier of Utility-Only Hitters

Entering his age-40 season, Nelson Cruz accepted a one-year contract after negotiations for a universal designated hitter fell through. Heading back to Minnesota, Cruz reunites with the "Bomba Squad” hoping he's the second player with at least 30 home runs in his age-40 season. David Ortiz accomplished the feat in 2016 launching 38 for the Red Sox before riding off into the sunset to retirement. 

With the Twins, Cruz owns a robust .308/.394/.626 slash line with 57 home runs and 141 RBI over 735 plate appearances the last two seasons spanning 173 contests. When factoring in how he's undervalued in NFBC drafts, Cruz gets taken sooner on other sites. He's going to get a day off each week and will not play in National League parks, so bake this into his price but even if Cruz suffers some regression in his batting average, his power still plays. 

Right behind Cruz in Fantasy Pros ADP, Yordan Alvarez also gets targeted in drafts. After a monstrous rookie debut in 2019 when he crushed 28 home runs in 87 games hitting .313 with a hearty 1.067 on-base plus slugging (OPS). Plus, when adding his 22 home runs at Triple-A in 2019 to his major league total, it's tough to ignore a hitter with 40-home run upside heading into this season. A bout with COVID and bad knees limited him to two games last year, hence the apprehension baked into his present price point. If he accrues 500 at-bats, plan on a backslide in batting average but if the power gains hold, Alvarez may reward his owners with a bevy of counting statistics. 

Does one believe in the prior production of J.D. Martinez batting in the heart of the Red Sox lineup or the broken version from the truncated 2020 campaign? Lingering back issues along with the lack of video during games attributed to his cratered results last year. Prior to 2020, Martinez recorded four straight seasons with a batting average above .300, an on-base rate higher than 34 percent, a slugging percentage over .530 and he hit more than 30 home runs in three of them. Simply hitting 30 home runs with an average at or above .280 makes him worth the price to find out. 

Tier Two

Many see Giancarlo Stanton going later in drafts and wonder why. If one's ever owned him in the last three years, they understand. Stanton's been hampered by injuries limited to 199 games since 2018 with 871 plate appearances, 122 runs, 45 home runs, 124 RBI and a .266/.353/.507 slash line. He may be the poster boy for risk versus reward in fantasy drafts but with the reduced price, for the first time in four years, it may be time to find out. Just remember, 158 of those games occured in 2018 alone. 

It felt like waiting for Franmil Reyes instead of taking Stanton last year made so much sense. Then Reyes only launched nine home runs in 59 games but with a respectable .275/.344/.450 slash. However, many felt "The Franimal” could lead the American League in home runs. He could hit cleanup for Cleveland and if there's one commodity to believe in for Reyes, it's not hitting .275 over a full season, but 35-plus home runs remains in the potential outcomes. If this happens, he reaches Cruz levels of production at a fraction of the cost. 

With eligibility as a designated hitter and pitcher, owning Shohei Ohtani comes with inherent risk. Of course, many would prefer he stop pitching and focus on hitting only. Why? Well, before his horrendous 2020 during which his batting average and batting average on balls in play (BABIP) cratered, Ohtani hit .285 or better in 2018 and 2019. Despite losing time as a pitcher, he's produced 47 home runs with 29 stolen bases in less than 1,000 plate appearances spanning 266 games as a hitter. If he received 500 plate appearances, Ohtani could outproduce Austin Meadows who gets taken near pick 80. Heed his rehab closely and if Ohtani stops pitching, pounce in drafts.

Tier Three

Insert the Clint Eastwood quote from the "Dirty Harry” film series,: “Feeling lucky?” Both players in this tier come with name value but not much more for 2021. Miguel Cabrera does not seem to be aging well though he actually surprised in 2020 with ten home runs in 57 games and a .250 average. However, finding a player with 20-home run upside and a .260 average at this stage of the draft is rare. Let someone else pay for his name and remember he's turning 38 while not aging gracefully like Cruz above. 

As for Khris Davis , he's been traded to Texas and hitting .247 would be a welcome boon to his fantasy value. He's not been the same since his injury playing outfield in Pittsburgh. Davis only hit .200 in 30 contests last year with two home runs. Plus, his career numbers in Texas look alluring, but it's at the old ballpark (Globe Life Park in Arlington) not the more spacious Globe Life Field which opened in 2020. 

Fliers Tier Utility-Only Hitters With Upside

Although Daniel Vogelbach gets hurt if there's no universal designated hitter, there's no guarantee Keston Hiura picks up first base in spring training. Any sort of delay or setback for Hiura opens the door for Vogelbach who owns tremendous pull power in a home ballpark in Milwaukee suited for his swing. Keep close tabs on where the Brewers plan to play Hiura but if Vogelbach gets time at first base, he's a worthy waiver claim during the 2021 season. It's a small sample, but Vogelbach hit four home runs in only 19 games with Milwaukee last year with a .569 slugging percentage and .987 OPS. 

Outfielder Chas McCormick could gain eligibility early on in 2021 with Houston. He's a bit old to be considered a prospect but with light-hitting Myles Straw replacing George Springer in center field, McCormick could hit his way into more playing time. Between two minor league levels in 2019 (Double-A and Triple-A), he logged 110 games with 65 runs, 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases with an on-base percentage of .386 over 448 plate appearances, In fact, during 968 minor league at-bats, his on-base rate of 36 percent could help him push Straw for playing time early on with the Astros. For deep formats only but a name to tuck away in the end-game of drafts. 

In review, there's a clear top-two tiers with some late-round dart throws in a position which will expand in the future when the universal designated hitter becomes adopted. Until then, use the utility spot wisely. Thanks to a poll on Twitter, here's how the top four utility-only hitters get assessed in a poll with their ADP attached:

Use the information provided, read up further in our player profiles and make the right choice for 2021 at the position. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Fantasypros.com

https://playnfbc.sportshubtech.com/adp