There was an extended stretch of Purple Sox historical past through which you might roll into spring coaching and write down the man who would dominate the DH place in everlasting ink.
For 14 years from 2003 via 2016, it belonged to David Ortiz. Then, after he retired and the Sox tried Hanley Ramirez there for a season in 2017, J.D. Martinez took over and led the group in video games performed from the place for 5 years from 2018 via 2022. Principally, for those who wished to get within the lineup and your final identify didn’t finish in a z, you’d higher have a glove, and also you higher have spot the place you might play day by day.
However these days, very like the balls these guys hit, are lengthy gone. Beginning with Martinez’s remaining 12 months in Boston in 2022, the Purple Sox have now had 4 completely different guys lead the group in video games from the DH slot within the final 4 seasons. And given the make-up of this roster going into 2026, we is likely to be about to go five-for-five.
First up, right here’s the blokes who’ve performed probably the most video games at DH for the Purple Sox during the last 4 years:
- 2022: J.D. Martinez (139 video games)
- 2023: Justin Turner (98 video games)
- 2024: Masataka Yoshida (101 video games)
- 2025: Rafael Devers (RIP) (73 video games)
Secondly, as a fast facet notice, not have having a everlasting DH actually modifications the best way you construct a roster. Again within the days of Ortiz and Martinez, every other on a regular basis place participant signed or traded for needed to make sense in some particular spot. However now, you possibly can have overflow — as a result of hey, “if each guys are good and you’ve got further at-bats, the opposite man can simply DH. Downside solved!”
Properly, Craig Breslow and firm have taken that idea and pushed it to its restrict as, proper now, I don’t have a clue who’s going to get probably the most at-bats at DH in 2026.
It could possibly be Jarren Duran, who may get displaced from the outfield for many of the season if Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu keep wholesome and anchor down at their positions.
It could possibly be Masataka Yoshida, who, if wholesome, could bounce again offensively and doesn’t have anyplace to go defensively on this roster.
It could possibly be Triston Casas, who nonetheless has severe upside energy after a pair of damage plagued seasons and is now a much less apparent match at first base with Willson Contreras on the roster.
It may even be Kristian Campbell, who, in contrast to the opposite three guys I simply talked about, is true handed. He may work his method into the lineup in opposition to left-handed starters if his retooled swing sticks higher than his glove at anyone place.
Or who is aware of — it could possibly be any individual else who will get shuffled within the deck we’re not even interested by proper now. Who do you suppose will lead the 2026 Purple Sox in video games performed at DH?
Speak about this and no matter else you’d like, and, as at all times, be good to 1 one other.
