Colorado Rockies: What Charlie Blackmon thinks about the DH in the NL

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon recently gave his thoughts on the designated hitter likely coming to the National League in 2020.

On a recent interview on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Colorado Rockies All-Star outfielder Charlie Blackmon made it clear that he is not a fan of the rumors that the designated hitter will become a part of the National League’s DNA in 2020 because it changes how NL managers deal with the pitcher’s spot in the batting order.

“I love the strategy of, ‘What am I going to do about this pitcher hitting? Am I going to send him back out there? What’s my matchup? Who’s left on my bench?’ I mean, I think that really changes the game,” Blackmon said in the interview.

While Blackmon has only played for the Rockies since his Major League debut on June 7, 2011, he has seen enough of the American League in person during interleague play to know that he prefers that the two leagues have some differences.

“I enjoy having both leagues be slightly different and you pick your style of baseball,” Blackmon told MLB Network Radio.

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Blackmon, who will turn 34 on July 1, has been a hot topic among Rockies fans as potentially being the team’s primary designated hitter in 2020. With his defense statistically in decline, Blackmon could in theory move out of the outfield (serving as the DH) and allow younger players such as Sam Hilliard, David Dahl, Raimel Tapia, and even Garrett Hampson to patrol the large expanses of outfield at Coors Field. It’s a possibility that we wrote about in this article.

In theory, it may sound good. However, in the interview, Blackmon, didn’t give a ringing endorsement for playing that role in 2020.

“I personally don’t like DH’ing a whole lot. I feel like I’m not like a legitimate part of the team that day,” Blackmon said.

Blackmon has served as Colorado’s designated hitter in just three career games, posting a .231/.231/.462 slash line in 13 at-bats.

You can hear Blackmon’s interview with MLB Network Radio, including his thoughts on the designated hitter as well as how he has stayed in shape this spring, by listening below.