Colorado Rockies: Potential 2019 batting orders with a designated hitter

Could a universal designated hitter be implemented into Major League Baseball in the very near future? According to a report, it is very possible that the Colorado Rockies and other National League teams could have a new look in the batting order soon.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) proposed a universal designated hitter for the upcoming season as one of many changes that the game could see in the not-too-distant future. That would mean that the Colorado Rockies and their NL compatriots would join the American League in not having the pitcher hit in the lineup.

While adding a DH may seem like a good thing to increase the offense, it would take those pitchers who could actually hit (like Colorado’s Silver Slugger winner German Marquez) out of the equation.

Could the universal DH happen as early as 2019? It seems like it would be a giant stretch to have NL teams that have been built with the thought of the pitcher hitting in the lineup suddenly have the designated hitter as a possibility. However, the thought that the offer was made by the players makes this a very interesting development to watch.

Even if the universal DH does not make its way into Coors Field next season, the Rockies will still be employing the designated hitter when they hit the road to face Tampa Bay (April 1-3), Boston (May 14-15) and New York (Yankees, July 19-21) in their encounters with American League East squads.

Who could serve as the DH this coming season for the Rockies? Let’s take a look at some possibilities.