\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"_Here is Ian Browne’s ranking of the top 5 designated hitters in Red Sox history. Next week: Right-handed starters._","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"• **Red Sox All-Time Team:** C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF\n\n**1)** David Ortiz**, 2003-16** \n_Key fact: His 483 homers for the Red Sox rank him second in club history to Ted Williams_\n\nWhere to start? The Red Sox picked Ortiz off the scrap heap in January 2003 after he was released by the Twins, and he turned into the most impactful clutch hitter in team history. It was largely due to the heroics of Ortiz that the 2004 Red Sox became the first -- and still the only -- team in history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series. The fact that mammoth accomplishment came against the Yankees made it even sweeter. Curse of the Bambino? Once Ortiz came to Boston, he developed a Ruthian presence of his own. In those ’04 playoffs, Ortiz had three walk-off hits -- two of them homers.\n\nOrtiz was a central figure in Boston’s World Series championship seasons of 2004, ’07 and ’13. If it didn’t seem like Ortiz could carry the club any more than he did in ’04, he somehow did in October of ’13. His grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the American League Championship Series tied the game and rescued the Red Sox when they were in danger of falling behind in the series, 2-0. In their World Series triumph against the Cardinals, Ortiz was an absolute machine, hitting .688 with two homers and six RBIs.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2004-10-18T00:44:00Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2020/2020-05/05/100f3075-7396f142-adbce3d3-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"10/17/2004: The Red Sox tie ALCS Game 4 in the 9th with help from Dave Roberts' steal, then David Ortiz's homer in extras extends the series","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:12:43","slug":"roberts-ortiz-lift-the-red-sox","tags":[{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"epic-innings","title":"Epic Innings","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-111","title":"Boston Red Sox","team":{"__ref":"Team:111"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"classic","title":"classic","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-150353","title":"Dave Roberts","person":{"__ref":"Person:150353"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-120074","title":"David Ortiz","person":{"__ref":"Person:120074"},"type":"player"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/csblh02qsgaseyzhe1un"},"title":"Roberts, Ortiz lift the Red Sox","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/roberts-ortiz-lift-the-red-sox"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"\"I always felt like David was the first guy I ever played with who knew how I felt in October,\" Curt Schilling said. \"The pulse was always elevated, the heart rate, the blood pressure. I treasured that feeling. I couldn't wait for that feeling. I was in love with that feeling. Is there any doubt that's exactly how David felt? It was his time. The '13 World Series might have been the greatest performance in the history of the World Series.”\n\nOrtiz’s 54 homers in 2006 is a team record. He ranks fifth on the team’s all-time list in runs, sixth in hits, third in doubles, third in RBIs, fourth in walks, fourth in slugging percentage, third in extra-base hits and fifth in total bases. He isn’t just the best DH in Red Sox history, but arguably the best in baseball history.\n\n**2)** J.D. Martinez**, 2018-present** \n_Key fact: His 79 homers over the last two seasons are second to Mike Trout among American Leaguers_\n\nIn 2017, the year after Ortiz retired, there was a gaping hole for a Boston squad that suddenly became over-dependent on pitching. That all changed in the spring of ’18, when the Sox found a DH who put up Ortiz-like numbers. Martinez helped spark the Red Sox to the World Series in a monster first season, putting together a slash line of .330/.402/.629 with 43 homers and a Major League-leading 130 RBIs. Not only that, but he transformed the culture of the lineup by constantly leading discussions about hitting. Martinez is a thinking-man’s hitter and is often as involved in pregame scouting sessions as the coaches.\n\nThough Martinez didn’t quite match those heroics last year, he remained a force to be reckoned with, hitting .304 with 36 homers and 105 RBIs. The beauty of Martinez is that he’s not just a slugger, but also a pure hitter. Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora frequently compared him to Manny Ramirez for his ability to hit with authority to all fields.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2019-09-01T21:29:48.075Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-09/01/c9806e1f-6f3ec8a4-6befdf4d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"J.D. Martinez hammers a solo home run over the wall in right field to extend the Red Sox's lead to 4-0 in the top of the 3rd ","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:45","slug":"martinez-s-solo-jack","tags":[{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-111","title":"Boston Red Sox","team":{"__ref":"Team:111"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-502110","title":"J.D. Martinez","person":{"__ref":"Person:502110"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"season-2019","title":"Season 2019","type":"season"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"home-run","title":"home run","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"in-game-highlight","title":"in-game highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"eclat-feed","title":"Eclat feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"international-feed","title":"International Partner feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"yahoo-fantasy","title":"Yahoo Fantasy","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"1-yahoo-fantasy-feed","title":"1-Yahoo Fantasy Feed","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ry5p0rkudwtxcejabfxa"},"title":"Martinez's solo jack","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/martinez-s-solo-jack"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"**3)** [Reggie Jefferson](https://www.mlb.com/player/reggie-jefferson-116515)**, 1995-99** \n_Key fact: Had a .981 OPS in 418 plate appearances in ‘96_\n\nWho? Exactly. Jefferson was overshadowed while sharing lineups with players like Mo Vaughn, Nomar Garciaparra and John Valentin on the Red Sox teams of the mid-to-late ‘90s. And he was a platoon player, generally only starting against righties. But Jefferson could really hit. Take a look at his ’96 season, when he slashed .347/.388/.593 with 30 doubles and 19 homers in just 386 at-bats.\n\nJefferson loved to hit at Fenway Park, where he could go to the opposite field and pepper the Green Monster. The only down note from his time with the Red Sox is that he left the team in the middle of the ’99 playoffs after being left off the AL Division Series roster.\n\n**4)** Don Baylor**, 1986-87** \n_Key fact: Was part of a rarity -- a significant Red Sox-Yankees trade -- when he was acquired for Mike Easler just before the ’86 season_\n\nWe have to go beyond the numbers a little with Baylor. It’s doubtful the Red Sox would have won the AL pennant in ’86 without Baylor’s presence in the clubhouse and the lineup. Boston had been known as a 25-players, 25-cabs type of entity until Baylor came in and changed that. He even instituted a kangaroo court, which led players to focus more on intangibles like driving in a run with a man on third and less than two outs.\n\nBaylor got it done from the batter’s box also in that pennant-winning season, clubbing a team-high 31 homers to go with 94 RBIs. In short, he provided credibility for a squad that had many players who were inexperienced in pennant races. Baylor was fearless at the plate, getting hit by a career-high 35 pitches in ’86 and 267 for his career. If a pitch was coming in on him, he didn’t duck out of the way, but would instead turn a shoulder and take his base and never complain about the pain.\n\nBefore becoming a lumbering slugger, Baylor was a top athlete earlier in his career, stealing 52 bases for the 1976 A’s. He was the AL Most Valuable Player for the Angels in ’79.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"1986-10-12T07:33:00Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2013/10/29/mlbtv_bosana_31193413_3gpp_128K.3gp","type":"video","description":"10/12/86: Don Baylor hits a two-run home run off of Mike Witt to cut the Red Sox's deficit to a run in the top of the ninth","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:50","slug":"baylor-s-ninth-inning-jack-c31193413","tags":[{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-home-team-id-108","title":"HBmig home_team_id: 108","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-111","title":"Boston Red Sox","team":{"__ref":"Team:111"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-team-id-111","title":"HBmig Boston Red Sox","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-feature","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_FEATURE","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-vtp-1980","title":"HBmig 1980s","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-combined-media-state-media-archive","title":"HBmig MEDIA_ARCHIVE","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"hbmig-away-team-id-111","title":"HBmig away_team_id: 111","type":"unsupported"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-110719","title":"Don Baylor","person":{"__ref":"Person:110719"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"home-run","title":"home run","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"classic","title":"classic","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"hitting","title":"hitting","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"alcs","title":"ALCS","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"postseason","title":"postseason","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/lvgxnmkiigckcor6pbf6"},"title":"Baylor's ninth-inning jack","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/baylor-s-ninth-inning-jack-c31193413"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"**5)** [Mike Easler](https://www.mlb.com/player/mike-easler-113701)**, 1984-85** \n_Key fact: Won a World Series ring with the ’79 Pirates_\n\nThough Easler never got to taste the playoffs in his short stint in Boston, he was a positive clubhouse presence with a classic upper cut to his swing. As part of a loaded Red Sox lineup in ’84, Easler more than did his part with a line of .313/.376/.516 with 27 homers and 91 RBIs. With numbers like that, you can see why Easler’s teammates loved to call him “The Hit Man.\" Easler wasn’t quite the same threat in ’85, but he still contributed with 29 doubles and 16 homers.\n\n**Honorable mentions** \nYes, **Jose Canseco** was once a member of the Red Sox. The righty masher served as Boston’s DH in 1995-96, belting 52 homers in 882 plate appearances. The big problem was Canseco’s health made him unreliable. He was able to play just 64 percent of the available games in those two seasons. … Hall of Famer **Orlando Cepeda** deserves a mention simply for being the first DH in Red Sox history. Though Cepeda played just one year in Boston, he pretty much did what he was hired to do, ripping 20 homers and driving in 86 runs. … A true DH by that point of his career, **Jack Clark** never wore a glove in the two seasons (1991-92) he played for the Red Sox. Clark smashed 28 homers for a ’91 team that was in the pennant race until the final few days of the season, but he slumped mightily in the final season of his solid career in ’92.","type":"text"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/best-designated-hitters-in-red-sox-history","contentType":"news","subHeadline":null,"summary":"No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their career while playing for that club. These rankings are for fun","tagline({\"formatString\":\"none\"})":null,"tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"season-2020","title":"Season 2020","type":"season"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"storytype-article","title":"Article","type":"article"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-111","title":"Boston Red Sox","team":{"__ref":"Team:111"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"ContributorTag","slug":"ian-browne","title":"Ian Browne","type":"contributor"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-502110","title":"J.D. Martinez","person":{"__ref":"Person:502110"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-120074","title":"David Ortiz","person":{"__ref":"Person:120074"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"evergreen","title":"evergreen","type":"taxonomy"}],"type":"story","thumbnail":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/qc0ipl4iopmb9v8xrtip","title":"Best designated hitters in Red Sox history"},"getTeamsBySportId({\"ids\":[1]})":[{"__ref":"Team:133"},{"__ref":"Team:134"},{"__ref":"Team:135"},{"__ref":"Team:136"},{"__ref":"Team:137"},{"__ref":"Team:138"},{"__ref":"Team:139"},{"__ref":"Team:140"},{"__ref":"Team:141"},{"__ref":"Team:142"},{"__ref":"Team:143"},{"__ref":"Team:144"},{"__ref":"Team:145"},{"__ref":"Team:146"},{"__ref":"Team:147"},{"__ref":"Team:158"},{"__ref":"Team:108"},{"__ref":"Team:109"},{"__ref":"Team:110"},{"__ref":"Team:111"},{"__ref":"Team:112"},{"__ref":"Team:113"},{"__ref":"Team:114"},{"__ref":"Team:115"},{"__ref":"Team:116"},{"__ref":"Team:117"},{"__ref":"Team:118"},{"__ref":"Team:119"},{"__ref":"Team:120"},{"__ref":"Team:121"}],"getHeaderFromForgePath({\"contentSource\":\"MLB\",\"headerPath\":\"/_navs/header/mlb/global-nav\",\"paletteKey\":\"mlb-base-palette\",\"propertiesKey\":\"mlb-global-properties\"})":{"__typename":"Header","navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"MLB.TV","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/tv?&affiliateId=mlbMENUtv","placement":"right","visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Buy MLB.TV Offseason Package","linkUrl":"/live-stream-games/subscribe?&affiliateId=mlbMENUtv","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Watch & Listen","linkUrl":"/live-stream-games?&affiliateID=mlbMENUtv","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB.TV Partners","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/partners?&affiliateId=mlbMENUtv","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Link Account","linkUrl":"live-stream-games/partners?&affiliateId=mlbMENUtv","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Help Center","linkUrl":"/live-stream-games/help-center?&affiliateID=mlbMENUtv","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"All-Star Tickets","linkUrl":"/all-star/tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1721167200;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB at Rickwood Field","linkUrl":"/events/rickwood/tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1718924400;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1711511940;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Buy on SeatGeek","linkUrl":"https://seatgeek.com/mlb-tickets?aid=15994&pid=integration&rid=1&utm_medium=partnership&utm_source=mlb_sponsorship&utm_campaign=integration","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Sell on SeatGeek","linkUrl":"https://seatgeek.com/sell/mlb-tickets?aid=15994&pid=integration&rid=15&utm_medium=partnership&utm_source=mlb_sponsorship&utm_campaign=integration","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Season Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Single Game Tickets","linkUrl":"/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Group Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/group-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Special Ticket Offers","linkUrl":"/tickets/fan-value","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Speedway Classic","linkUrl":"/events/speedway-classic/tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"VIP Ticket Packages","linkUrl":"/tickets/on-location-experiences","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Students","linkUrl":"/tickets/students","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Tourism","linkUrl":"/tourism","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB World Tour","linkUrl":"/international/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ticket Terms & Conditions","linkUrl":"/tickets/terms-and-conditions","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":"shopping-cart","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Shop","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/?_s=bm-mlbcom-hp","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Online Shop","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/?_s=bm-mlbcom-hp","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Auction","linkUrl":"https://auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/showHomePage.action?sid=1101001&isynsharedsession=9mislq-18JnZhOEp-FeGzvUB3G6zxwkeKqwX99MKAttEdaSACl02r4aCDzYhNvUm","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Gift Cards","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/gift-cards/x-462351+z-94899005-3509039474?_s=bm-mlbcom-Home","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB NYC Flagship Store","linkUrl":"/shop/nyc-retail-store","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"European Shop","linkUrl":"http://www.mlbshopeurope.com/stores/mlb/en?portal=MLTS66FS&CMP=PSC-MLTS66FS","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Photo Store","linkUrl":"https://photostore.mlb.com/","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"amp:true;mobile:true","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"News","linkUrl":"/news","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Rule Changes","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/rule-changes-2023","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Probable Pitchers","linkUrl":"/probable-pitchers/","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Starting Lineups","linkUrl":"/starting-lineups","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Transactions","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/transactions","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Injury Report","linkUrl":"/injury-report","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"World Baseball Classic","linkUrl":"/world-baseball-classic","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Draft","linkUrl":"/draft/2024","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"All-Star Game","linkUrl":"/all-star/","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Life","linkUrl":"/fans/mlb-life","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Pipeline","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/pipeline","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason History","linkUrl":"/postseason/history","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Great Stories","linkUrl":"/news/topic/longform","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Podcasts","linkUrl":"/fans/podcasts","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Watch","linkUrl":"/tv?&affiliateId=mlbMENU","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":"Video","navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Search","linkUrl":"/video","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Statcast","linkUrl":"/video/topic/statcast","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Network","linkUrl":"/network","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]},{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":"MLB.TV","navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Buy MLB.TV Postseason Package","linkUrl":"/live-stream-games/subscribe?&affiliateId=mlbMENU","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Watch & Listen","linkUrl":"/live-stream-games?&affiliateID=mlbMENU","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Help Center","linkUrl":"/live-stream-games/help-center?&affiliateID=mlbMENU","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;amp:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Scores","linkUrl":"/scores/2025-02-20","placement":"mobile","visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"amp:true;mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/2025-02-20","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2025 Spring Training","linkUrl":"/schedule/2025-02-20","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2025 Regular Season","linkUrl":"/schedule/2025-03-18","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2024 Regular Season","linkUrl":"/schedule/2024-03-20","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2024 Postseason","linkUrl":"/postseason","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Events","linkUrl":"/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Team by Team Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/team-by-team","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Sync Schedules","linkUrl":"https://mlb.ecal.com/","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"National Broadcasts","linkUrl":"/live-stream-games/national-broadcast-schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;amp:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Stats","linkUrl":"/stats","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Statcast Leaders","linkUrl":"https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_leaderboard","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Statcast","linkUrl":"/statcast","linkTarget":"","visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Baseball Savant","linkUrl":"https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Top Prospect Stats","linkUrl":"/prospects/stats/top-prospects?type=all&minPA=1","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"amp:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Standings","linkUrl":"/standings/wild-card","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Youth","linkUrl":"/youth-baseball-softball","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Play Ball","linkUrl":"/play-ball","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Youth Baseball & Softball","linkUrl":"/youth-baseball-softball","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"","icon":"group","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Players","linkUrl":"/players","placement":null,"visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Prospect Rankings","linkUrl":"/prospects","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Depth Charts","linkUrl":"/team/roster/depth-chart","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Players Association","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbplayers.com","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Negro Leagues","linkUrl":"/history/negro-leagues","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"MLB Play","linkUrl":"/play","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Beat the Streak","linkUrl":"/play?gameId=BeatTheStreak2022","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Immaculate Grid","linkUrl":"/play?gameId=ImmaculateGrid2024","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Trivia","linkUrl":"/play?gameId=SporcleTrivia2024","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Pickle","linkUrl":"/play?gameId=Pickle2023","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"By the Numbers","linkUrl":"/play?gameId=ByTheNumbers2022","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Diamond Decisions","linkUrl":"/play?gameId=DiamondDecisions2024","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Bingo","linkUrl":"/play?gameId=Bingo2023","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"expires:1720022400;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Vote","linkUrl":"/all-star/ballot?affiliateId=asb-topnav-mlb-2024","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"amp:true;module:teammodule;align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Teams","linkUrl":"/team","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Team Module","linkUrl":null,"linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"module:teammodule;"}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;lang:es;label:Español","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"ES","linkUrl":"/es","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"日本語","linkUrl":"http://www.mlb.jp/","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"lang:ja"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"한국어","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbkor.com/","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"lang:ko"}]}]}],"cfPalette":{"__typename":"CF_Palette","headerMastheadBackgroundColor":"#002D72","headerMastheadTextColor":"#ffffff","headerNavigationBackgroundColor":"#041E42","headerNavigationBorderColor":"#057AFF","headerNavigationTextColorHover":"#ffffff","headerNavigationTextColor":"#ffffff"},"cfWebProperties":{"__typename":"CF_WebProperties","urlLogo":null,"headerMastheadTagline":null,"headerPrimaryLogo":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":null,"description":null},"headerMastheadSponsorImage":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":null,"description":null},"headerMastheadTaglineContainerWidth":"512px","headerMastheadTaglineContainerHeight":"56px"}}},"Team:111":{"__typename":"Team","id":111,"division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"name":"Boston Red Sox","shortName":"Boston","teamName":"Red Sox"},"Person:150353":{"__typename":"Person","id":150353},"Person:120074":{"__typename":"Person","id":120074},"Person:502110":{"__typename":"Person","id":502110},"Person:110719":{"__typename":"Person","id":110719},"Division:200":{"__typename":"Division","id":"200"},"Team:133":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":133,"name":"Athletics","shortName":"Athletics","teamName":"Athletics"},"Division:205":{"__typename":"Division","id":"205"},"Team:134":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":134,"name":"Pittsburgh Pirates","shortName":"Pittsburgh","teamName":"Pirates"},"Division:203":{"__typename":"Division","id":"203"},"Team:135":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":135,"name":"San Diego Padres","shortName":"San Diego","teamName":"Padres"},"Team:136":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":136,"name":"Seattle Mariners","shortName":"Seattle","teamName":"Mariners"},"Team:137":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":137,"name":"San Francisco Giants","shortName":"San Francisco","teamName":"Giants"},"Team:138":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":138,"name":"St. Louis Cardinals","shortName":"St. Louis","teamName":"Cardinals"},"Division:201":{"__typename":"Division","id":"201"},"Team:139":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":139,"name":"Tampa Bay Rays","shortName":"Tampa Bay","teamName":"Rays"},"Team:140":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":140,"name":"Texas Rangers","shortName":"Texas","teamName":"Rangers"},"Team:141":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":141,"name":"Toronto Blue Jays","shortName":"Toronto","teamName":"Blue Jays"},"Division:202":{"__typename":"Division","id":"202"},"Team:142":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":142,"name":"Minnesota Twins","shortName":"Minnesota","teamName":"Twins"},"Division:204":{"__typename":"Division","id":"204"},"Team:143":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":143,"name":"Philadelphia Phillies","shortName":"Philadelphia","teamName":"Phillies"},"Team:144":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":144,"name":"Atlanta Braves","shortName":"Atlanta","teamName":"Braves"},"Team:145":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":145,"name":"Chicago White Sox","shortName":"Chi White Sox","teamName":"White Sox"},"Team:146":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":146,"name":"Miami Marlins","shortName":"Miami","teamName":"Marlins"},"Team:147":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":147,"name":"New York Yankees","shortName":"NY Yankees","teamName":"Yankees"},"Team:158":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":158,"name":"Milwaukee Brewers","shortName":"Milwaukee","teamName":"Brewers"},"Team:108":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":108,"name":"Los Angeles Angels","shortName":"LA Angels","teamName":"Angels"},"Team:109":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":109,"name":"Arizona Diamondbacks","shortName":"Arizona","teamName":"D-backs"},"Team:110":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":110,"name":"Baltimore Orioles","shortName":"Baltimore","teamName":"Orioles"},"Team:112":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":112,"name":"Chicago Cubs","shortName":"Chi Cubs","teamName":"Cubs"},"Team:113":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":113,"name":"Cincinnati Reds","shortName":"Cincinnati","teamName":"Reds"},"Team:114":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":114,"name":"Cleveland Guardians","shortName":"Cleveland","teamName":"Guardians"},"Team:115":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":115,"name":"Colorado Rockies","shortName":"Colorado","teamName":"Rockies"},"Team:116":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":116,"name":"Detroit Tigers","shortName":"Detroit","teamName":"Tigers"},"Team:117":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":117,"name":"Houston Astros","shortName":"Houston","teamName":"Astros"},"Team:118":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":118,"name":"Kansas City Royals","shortName":"Kansas City","teamName":"Royals"},"Team:119":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":119,"name":"Los Angeles Dodgers","shortName":"LA Dodgers","teamName":"Dodgers"},"Team:120":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":120,"name":"Washington Nationals","shortName":"Washington","teamName":"Nationals"},"Team:121":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":121,"name":"New York Mets","shortName":"NY Mets","teamName":"Mets"}}}
window.adobeAnalytics = {"reportingSuiteId":"mlbglobal08,mlbcom08","linkInternalFilters":"mlb"}
window.globalState = {"tracking_title":"Major League Baseball","lang":"en"}
window.appId = ''
/*-->*/
No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their career while playing for that club. These rankings are for fun and debate purposes only … if you don’t agree with the order, participate in the Twitter poll to vote for your favorite at this position.
You've probably figured out that David Ortiz is the best DH in the history of the Red Sox and J.D. Martinez is second. Who would you take next?
Here is Ian Browne’s ranking of the top 5 designated hitters in Red Sox history. Next week: Right-handed starters.
• Red Sox All-Time Team:C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF
1)David Ortiz, 2003-16 Key fact: His 483 homers for the Red Sox rank him second in club history to Ted Williams
Where to start? The Red Sox picked Ortiz off the scrap heap in January 2003 after he was released by the Twins, and he turned into the most impactful clutch hitter in team history. It was largely due to the heroics of Ortiz that the 2004 Red Sox became the first -- and still the only -- team in history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series. The fact that mammoth accomplishment came against the Yankees made it even sweeter. Curse of the Bambino? Once Ortiz came to Boston, he developed a Ruthian presence of his own. In those ’04 playoffs, Ortiz had three walk-off hits -- two of them homers.
Ortiz was a central figure in Boston’s World Series championship seasons of 2004, ’07 and ’13. If it didn’t seem like Ortiz could carry the club any more than he did in ’04, he somehow did in October of ’13. His grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the American League Championship Series tied the game and rescued the Red Sox when they were in danger of falling behind in the series, 2-0. In their World Series triumph against the Cardinals, Ortiz was an absolute machine, hitting .688 with two homers and six RBIs.
"I always felt like David was the first guy I ever played with who knew how I felt in October," Curt Schilling said. "The pulse was always elevated, the heart rate, the blood pressure. I treasured that feeling. I couldn't wait for that feeling. I was in love with that feeling. Is there any doubt that's exactly how David felt? It was his time. The '13 World Series might have been the greatest performance in the history of the World Series.”
Ortiz’s 54 homers in 2006 is a team record. He ranks fifth on the team’s all-time list in runs, sixth in hits, third in doubles, third in RBIs, fourth in walks, fourth in slugging percentage, third in extra-base hits and fifth in total bases. He isn’t just the best DH in Red Sox history, but arguably the best in baseball history.
2)J.D. Martinez, 2018-present Key fact: His 79 homers over the last two seasons are second to Mike Trout among American Leaguers
In 2017, the year after Ortiz retired, there was a gaping hole for a Boston squad that suddenly became over-dependent on pitching. That all changed in the spring of ’18, when the Sox found a DH who put up Ortiz-like numbers. Martinez helped spark the Red Sox to the World Series in a monster first season, putting together a slash line of .330/.402/.629 with 43 homers and a Major League-leading 130 RBIs. Not only that, but he transformed the culture of the lineup by constantly leading discussions about hitting. Martinez is a thinking-man’s hitter and is often as involved in pregame scouting sessions as the coaches.
Though Martinez didn’t quite match those heroics last year, he remained a force to be reckoned with, hitting .304 with 36 homers and 105 RBIs. The beauty of Martinez is that he’s not just a slugger, but also a pure hitter. Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora frequently compared him to Manny Ramirez for his ability to hit with authority to all fields.
3)Reggie Jefferson, 1995-99 Key fact: Had a .981 OPS in 418 plate appearances in ‘96
Who? Exactly. Jefferson was overshadowed while sharing lineups with players like Mo Vaughn, Nomar Garciaparra and John Valentin on the Red Sox teams of the mid-to-late ‘90s. And he was a platoon player, generally only starting against righties. But Jefferson could really hit. Take a look at his ’96 season, when he slashed .347/.388/.593 with 30 doubles and 19 homers in just 386 at-bats.
Jefferson loved to hit at Fenway Park, where he could go to the opposite field and pepper the Green Monster. The only down note from his time with the Red Sox is that he left the team in the middle of the ’99 playoffs after being left off the AL Division Series roster.
4)Don Baylor, 1986-87 Key fact: Was part of a rarity -- a significant Red Sox-Yankees trade -- when he was acquired for Mike Easler just before the ’86 season
We have to go beyond the numbers a little with Baylor. It’s doubtful the Red Sox would have won the AL pennant in ’86 without Baylor’s presence in the clubhouse and the lineup. Boston had been known as a 25-players, 25-cabs type of entity until Baylor came in and changed that. He even instituted a kangaroo court, which led players to focus more on intangibles like driving in a run with a man on third and less than two outs.
Baylor got it done from the batter’s box also in that pennant-winning season, clubbing a team-high 31 homers to go with 94 RBIs. In short, he provided credibility for a squad that had many players who were inexperienced in pennant races. Baylor was fearless at the plate, getting hit by a career-high 35 pitches in ’86 and 267 for his career. If a pitch was coming in on him, he didn’t duck out of the way, but would instead turn a shoulder and take his base and never complain about the pain.
Before becoming a lumbering slugger, Baylor was a top athlete earlier in his career, stealing 52 bases for the 1976 A’s. He was the AL Most Valuable Player for the Angels in ’79.
5)Mike Easler, 1984-85 Key fact: Won a World Series ring with the ’79 Pirates
Though Easler never got to taste the playoffs in his short stint in Boston, he was a positive clubhouse presence with a classic upper cut to his swing. As part of a loaded Red Sox lineup in ’84, Easler more than did his part with a line of .313/.376/.516 with 27 homers and 91 RBIs. With numbers like that, you can see why Easler’s teammates loved to call him “The Hit Man." Easler wasn’t quite the same threat in ’85, but he still contributed with 29 doubles and 16 homers.
Honorable mentions Yes, Jose Canseco was once a member of the Red Sox. The righty masher served as Boston’s DH in 1995-96, belting 52 homers in 882 plate appearances. The big problem was Canseco’s health made him unreliable. He was able to play just 64 percent of the available games in those two seasons. … Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda deserves a mention simply for being the first DH in Red Sox history. Though Cepeda played just one year in Boston, he pretty much did what he was hired to do, ripping 20 homers and driving in 86 runs. … A true DH by that point of his career, Jack Clark never wore a glove in the two seasons (1991-92) he played for the Red Sox. Clark smashed 28 homers for a ’91 team that was in the pennant race until the final few days of the season, but he slumped mightily in the final season of his solid career in ’92.