ESPN's Buster Olney has ranked the top 10 designated hitters for the 2026 MLB season, with Shohei Ohtani leading the list. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar continues to dominate as a DH despite his postseason struggles against the Phillies, where he went 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in the National League Division Series.

Ohtani's offensive versatility stands out, with nearly identical home and road OPS marks (.1.010 and .1.018) and exceptional performance in high-leverage situations (.1.123 OPS). The two-way star has scored 280 runs over the past two seasons, the most in baseball. Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber ranks second after signing a $150 million deal, showing remarkable improvement against fastballs and left-handed pitching throughout his career.

Houston's Yordan Alvarez sits third despite injury concerns that limited him to 48 games in 2023 and 114 games last season. The left-handed slugger remains crucial for the Astros' right-handed heavy lineup. Toronto's George Springer, entering the final year of his six-year, $150 million contract at age 36, ranks fourth with a stellar .309/.399/.560 slash line last season. Oakland's Brent Rooker, coming off a 30-homer campaign, rounds out the top five as a perfect complement to left-handed hitter Nick Kurtz.