Cubs Offseason Position Review: Designated Hitter

A look back at how each position performed in 2025, and a look ahead to 2026. These posts will compare the MLB rankings from 2024 with those produced in 2025, as well as individual statistics for all players who played the position in 2025.

Here are the other entries:
Catcher
First Base
Second Base
Shortstop
Third Base
Outfield

Positional Rankings: 2025 vs 2024

Stat	2024	2025	Change
WAR	2.1 (9th)	0.8 (18th)	-1.3 (-9)
HR	22 (t15th)	23 (t17th)	+1 (-2)
RBI	67 (23rd)	82 (15th)	+15 (+8)
OPS	.774 (9th)	.723 (21st)	-.052 (-12)
wRC+	118 (t9th)	105 (19th)	-13 (-10)

Values are total and then MLB rank in parentheses
wRC+ = Weighted Runs Created Plus

These are the first numbers I really found surprising during this exercise. I expected a big improvement at designated hitter, with Kyle Tucker playing right field, allowing Seiya Suzuki to play almost exclusively at DH. But despite 1 more home run and 15 more RBIs, the other primary offensive numbers – WAR, OPS and wRC+, for Cubs Designated Hitters all went down.

The two primary reasons for this drop: Suzuki was the primary DH in 2024, playing 59 games there with a .298/.385/.461 slash line. Also, Cody Bellinger was at DH for 24 games with a .323/.355/.566 slash line.

Individual Stats as a designated hitter

Name	G	WAR	HR	RBI	OPS	wRC+
Seiya Suzuki	102	0.9	16	58	.745	109
Kyle Tucker	19	0.1	3	7	.696	100
Justin Turner	18	-0.2	0	2	.547	68
Moisés Ballesteros	17	0.2	2	10	.864	141
Ian Happ	4	0.0	1	1	.702	98
Carson Kelly	3	-0.1	0	1	.450	38
Carlos Santana	2	-0.1	0	0	.333	-12
Miguel Amaya	1	0.2	1	3	3.500	719
Michael Busch	1	0.0	0	0	.000	-100
Owen Caissie	1	-0.1	0	0	.000	-100
Pete Crow-Armstrong	1	-0.1	0	0	.000	-100

The bottom line is that Suzuki was not as good a hitter as a DH in 2025 as he was in 2024. And only Moises Ballesteros provided much production. Kyle Tucker was worse as a DH than he was as a right fielder, and Justin Turner barely hit at all.

Here are Suzuki’s offensive numbers OF vs DH in 2024:

Name	G	WAR	HR	RBI	OPS	wRC+
as OF	73	1.8	12	44	.835	131
as DH	59	1.5	8	27	.846	139

And the numbers for 2025

Name	G	PA	WAR	HR	RBI	OPS	wRC+
as OF	48	205	1.7	16	45	.931	152
as DH	102	444	0.9	16	58	.745	109

In half the plate appearances, Suzuki hit as many home runs, and his OPS and wRC+ were miles better as an outfielder as opposed to a DH. If this trend continues, it would almost make up for his defensive lapses.

He did get hot at the end of these season, when Tucker was out injured and he was forced to play in the outfield. But was that simple coincidence, or could playing in the outfield been one of the factors that helped him get locked in at the plate?

Just to check, let’s look at his career numbers:

Name	G	AB	HR	AB/HR	RBI	OPS	ISO	wRC+
as RF	339	1288	58	22.2	193	.836	.209	131
as DH	167	641	25	25.6	81	.775	.183	118

2026 Outlook

Player	2026 Contract
Seiya Suzuki	$19M in 2026 (FA in 2027)
Owen Caissie	$820K in 2026 (pre-arbitration)
Moises Ballesteros	$820K in 2026 (pre-arbitration)

Those splits in 2025 between Suzuki’s numbers as an outfielder versus a DH are pretty eye-opening. While the numbers aren’t as stark during his whole career, it is something the Cubs might need to consider.

One of the scenarios has Suzuki in right with Ballesteros taking the at bats at DH versus right handed pitchers. Ballesteros was effective in this role toward the end of the season, but it is much too small a sample size to count on similar results in 2026. But it might free the Cubs to look at adding someone who could get most of their at bats at DH.