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Colorado Rockies: 2017 Batting Order Possibilities with a Designated Hitter

By Kevin Henry

Aug 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Detail view of Safeco Field sign in left field prior to a game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Detail view of Safeco Field sign in left field prior to a game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Colorado Rockies
Aug 31, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder David Dahl (26) and center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) and right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) congratulate each other following the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Dodgers 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Against right-handed pitchers

Charlie Blackmon CF (.320 last year vs. RHP)

DJ LeMahieu 2B (.354 last year vs. RHP)

Nolan Arenado 3B (.304 last year vs. RHP)

Carlos Gonzalez RF (.309 last year vs. RHP)

Trevor Story SS (.268 last year vs. RHP)

Ian Desmond 1B (.269 last year vs. RHP)

David Dahl LF (.316 last year vs. RHP)

Mark Reynolds DH (.297 last year vs. RHP)

Tony Wolters C (.267 last year vs. RHP)

Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies /

Colorado Rockies

We broke down why players like Trevor Story and Ian Desmond might be slotted into the lineup in certain places in our previous article on lineups that you can read here. But let’s look at the impact of the designated hitter here.

In this lineup, Mark Reynolds or Ian Desmond can serve as the designated hitter with the other player manning first base. Again, Desmond’s versatility will provide some opportunities to move players around this season, especially when playing in an American League park with the designated hitter. Perhaps Desmond shifts to shortstop and Story focuses on hitting for the day. Perhaps Blackmon gets the day off in center field while Desmond plays the outfield. The possibilities are many. It’s just a matter of how new Rockies manager Bud Black wants to play that day.

One other thought is Tom Murphy serving as the designated hitter. He hit .323 against right-handers in limited duty (31 at-bats last season). Again, there are possibilities.

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