Baseball’s Most Underrated Players By Team

As baseball’s All-Star break
approaches, MLB fans will soon get a glimpse of the game’s most
recognizable stars, as voted on by the fans themselves. It’s a
popularity contest, so the players on display are the players that
everyone knows, either by media exposure or word of mouth. But what
about the “other guys?” The unsung heroes that fly under the
radar? Below, I will assess each team’s most underrated player, at
least by this season’s standards. These are names you may want to
start taking note of. In regards to these players, as Notorious BIG
once said, “If you don’t know, now you know…” Without further
ado:

American League East

Baltimore
Orioles – Darren O’Day, RP

I
love the “O’Day, O’Day O’Day O’Day!” chants that starts when he
starts warming up in the Camden Yards bullpen. The submarine
right-hander has burst onto the scene in Baltimore after a brief but
solid tenure in Texas, which followed a 30-game stint in Anaheim.
O’Day is 12-1 in a year-and-a-half in Baltimore, going 7-1 with a
2.28 ERA last year and proving that was no fluke by going 5-0 with a
2.09 ERA this year. He also threw five hitless innings in four
postseason games last year, and has become one of the game’s most
effective setup men. He’s not an All-Star, and he’s not even on the
last-vote-in list, but he’s plenty worthy.

Boston
Red Sox – Daniel Nava, LF

This
is a hard one to admit, but Nava is quite a story. How many undrafted
players make it in Major League Baseball, let alone pace baseball’s
highest scoring offense? Nava’s career started with a boom, as he
connected for a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in 2010. Though
he didn’t see the majors in 2011, he played in 88 games last year,
and with an opening in left field this year, he’s taken full
advantage. As an everyday player, Nava has batted .296 with 10 home
runs and 51 RBI, and has come through often in the clutch, batting
.330 with runners in scoring position. So much for my prediction of
Jackie Bradley Jr. winning AL Rookie of the Year.

New
York Yankees – Francisco Cervelli, C

Cervelli’s
strong season has been derailed by injury, but he is as valuable a
cog to the Yankees as anybody. With Cervelli, it’s not so much about
the numbers (.269, 3, 8), but the energy he brings to the team and
his ability to handle the pitching staff. Chris Stewart has filled in
admirably, but his absence has hurt the Yankees, make no mistake.
Cervelli has also been clutch in limited time this season, and the
Yankees clearly had a lot of faith in him to not try and resign
Russell Martin.

Tampa
Bay Rays – Joel Peralta, RP

Peralta
is another one of those classic journeyman relievers who has finally
found it. The Rays are Peralta’s fifth team, and he has developed
into Joe Maddon’s eighth-inning guy, with a low-90’s fastball and
nasty splitter. Peralta’s primary numbers aren’t necessarily dominant
(6-14, 3.30 in 193 games over 2-plus seasons in Tampa Bay), but he
has 185 strikeouts over 174.1 innings during that span, and his
durability and dependability haven’t gone unnoticed by Rays fans.

Toronto
Blue Jays – Steve Delabar, RP

With
Delabar being on the final All-Star vote ballot, he’s certainly less
underrated than he was at the beginning of the season, but he’s still
hardly a household name. With a mid-90’s fastball, Delabar can be
overpowering, as evidenced by his 57 strikeouts over 40 innings. He’s
5-1 with a 1.58 ERA in 35 games, and for an underachieving team he’s
been a breath of fresh air. Delabar could easily develop into a
closer, even though Casey Janssen isn’t too shabby. Though Alex
Anthopoulous has taken a lot of heat for his team’s poor first half,
obtaining Delabar for Eric Thames is more than a steal.

American League
Central

Chicago
White Sox – Jesse Crain, RP

Crain
is a longtime veteran who isn’t underrated by any general managers, a
fact that will soon be evidenced when he is dealt to a contender
(Boston?) at the trade deadline. Crain has been nearly unhittable
this year (0.74 ERA in 38 games), and is 45-30 with a 3.05 ERA in 502
career games over 10 seasons with Minnesota and Chicago. For the
third straight year, Crain also has more strikeouts than innings
pitched. He is easily Chicago’s biggest trading chip.

Cleveland
Indians – Michael Brantley, LF

It
took Brantley a little while to emerge, but 2013 has been something
of a breakout year for the 26-year-old. There were signs of it last
year when he hit .288 with 60 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 149 games,
but he has stayed consistent with a .284-7-45 line through 85 games
this year, adding 9 stolen bags. Cleveland has won some close games
this year in large part due to Brantley’s .377 RISP average as well.

Detroit
Tigers – Joaquin Benoit, RP

What
shocks and amazes me is how long it took Jim Leyland to insert Benoit
into the closer’s role on several occasions this year. The Tigers
began the year with unproven rookie Bruce Rondon, which quickly
backfired. The closer-by-committee approach bombed, and bringing back
Jose Valverde was a complete disaster. Enter the dependable Benoit,
who is 11-6 with a 2.99 ERA in two and a half seasons at a Tiger.
This has been his best year yet, as he has stepped into the closer’s
role and converted all seven of his save opportunities. With a mid-90’s
fastball, sharp slider and devastating changeup, he and Drew Smyly
have been the two constants in an otherwise crummy Detroit bullpen.

Kansas
City Royals – Greg Holland, RP

Holland’s
stuff can be electric, with a fastball that can creep close to triple
digits, and he has corrected some early season jitters by converting 14 straight save opportunities. He has a ridiculous 59 strikeouts in
34 innings, yet his name would be conspicuously absent from any
conversation about the game’s top closers among casual fans. He has
been the rock at the back end of a strong Kansas City bullpen.

Minnesota
Twins – Glen Perkins, RP

Keeping
up with the late-inning reliever trend in the AL Central, Perkins is
another closer who gets no pub despite being good enough to do the
job for at least 10 other teams. The hard-throwing southpaw is
20-for-22 in save chances this year and has a 2.41 ERA in 168 games
since the start of the 2011 season.

American
League West

Houston
Astros – Jose Altuve, 2B

Altuve
would be a nice trade commodity for teams looking for middle infield
help if the Astros didn’t need so desperately to build around him for
the future. The diminutive Altuve, who stands at 5’5”, racked up
167 hits last season in 147 games and is a career .285 hitter, but is
also a force on the basepaths. He stole 33 bases last year and has 21
more this season, but because he plays in Houston, very few people
know about him.

Los
Angeles Angels – Howie Kendrick, 2B

Kendrick
is another second baseman who flies under the radar in an AL run by
Dustin Pedroia and Robinson Cano at the position. The 5’10”
Kendrick may be enjoying his best year yet (.312, 11, 40) and plays
great defense, but goes mostly overlooked in a lineup that features
Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. He has stayed healthy,
averaging 148 games played the last three seasons, and with Pujols
and Hamilton having down years, he should get a lot more love for
helping keep the Angels afloat in 2013.

Oakland
Athletics – Josh Donaldson, 3B

Donaldson
is one of the countless young Athletics jumbled on a roster of
no-names compiled by Billy Beane that is a potential
star-in-the-making. Donaldson (.319, 15, 58) didn’t get many people’s
attention last year because he played in just 75 games, but he is
arguably the A’s best hitter right now and should continue to ascend.

Seattle
Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen, RP

At
one point, “The Bartender” was flat-out unhittable. The closer
has since returned to earth and his numbers actually look rather
pedestrian right now (0-2, 3.58 ERA, 18-for-23 in save chances) after
hitting a real rough patch in May. But when this guy is on, he is
potentially as good as it gets, at least stuff-wise. Wilhelmsen
throws close to 100 mph and has an absurdly good slider. On a team of
underachievers and players past their prime, Wilhelmsen may not be as
dynamic as some of the other names on this list, but he’s usually
trustworthy at the end of games.

Texas
Rangers – Derek Holland, SP

It
still feels like more people recognize Holland for his wispy mustache
and spot-on Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harry Caray impressions and not
his stellar pitching. But make no mistake, the flame-throwing lefty
is legitimate ace material. Though he had a bit of a down year last
year, he has returned to his 2011 form (16-5, 3.95, league-leading
four shutouts) with strong numbers in 2013 (7-4, 3.19, 114 strikeouts
in 118.2 innings) and has really become the go-to guy on Ron
Washington’s staff.

National
League East

Atlanta
Braves – Freddie Freeman, 1B

This
feels like a bit of a cop-out, especially with all the attention
Freeman is now getting with the final All-Star vote. But for most of
the year, he was truly getting lost in the shuffle for an Atlanta
team that would be lost without him. He has three walk-off hits to go
along with his .305-9-56 line, which includes a .394 RISP average.
Freeman is a legitimate MVP candidate.

Miami
Marlins – Logan Morrison, LF

People
seemed to forget about Morrison’s injury in light of Giancarlo
Stanton’s, which is understandable given how easy it is to forget the
Marlins altogether. But LoMo is a solid all-around player who gives
Miami a much-needed lineup boost, and he has made a quick impact in
just 21 games back with a .293-4-10 line. He showed great flashes in
2011 (.247, 23, 72), but dropped off last year (.230, 11, 36). Health
has been an issue with Morrison, but the potential is there and,
frankly, because Stanton is a known commodity, who else can you call
“underrated” on the Marlins?

New
York Mets – Bobby Parnell, SP

The
Mets closer will be a sought-after commodity at the trade deadline,
and rightfully so. Parnell seems to have finally put it all together.
His numbers are eerily identical to last year’s in half as many games
(5-4, 2.49 in 2012, 5-4, 2.48 in 2013), and his 15 saves in 18
chances won’t make you confuse him with Mariano Rivera, but his stuff
is electric, and he has been as consistent as any Met in an otherwise
down year.

Philadelphia
Phillies – Kyle Kendrick, SP

It’s
easy to forget about Kendrick because he pitches behind the Big
Three, but he has actually been the Phillies second-best pitcher this
season, and has been a model of consistency since the start of the
2011 season. Let’s overlook for a second the fact that Kendrick has
given up more hits than any National League pitcher this season (123
in 117.2 innings) and focus more on his 7-6 record and 3.90 ERA in 18
starts. That is the exact ERA he posted last year while going 11-12
in 37 games (25 starts), and he was 8-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 34 games
(15 starts) in 2011. The sinkerballer relies on ground balls to get
outs and if not for his ability to pick up the slack after Cliff Lee,
the Phillies might find themselves completely out of contention right
now.

Washington
Nationals – Ian Desmond, SS

Desmond
always seems to be on the cusp of becoming a truly great player, yet
has not taken that next big step yet. Still, he is deserving of his
All-Star selection (.278, 15, 49, 10 SB), and his numbers last year
(.292, 25, 73, 21 SB) are an indicator that he is a multi-talented
player. Desmond needs to work on his defense, but as an overall
player, he deserves more attention as one of the game’s top
shortstops.

National
League Central

Chicago
Cubs – Nate Schierholtz, RF

Let’s
at least establish this – Schierholtz isn’t underrated to Giants
fans. He was an invaluable member of their 2010 championship team,
and may have raised some eyebrows when the Cubs gave him a 1-year,
$2.25 million deal. But to his credit, Schierholtz has done his part,
hitting .273 with 11 homers and 34 RBI in 74 games. He is an
outstanding defensive player, and has a knack for the clutch (.316
average with RISP). His play with the Giants and Phillies last year
was far from stellar (.257, 6, 21), but he has proven that given a
chance to play every day, he can put up steady numbers.

Cincinnati
Reds – Jay Bruce, RF

Yes,
Bruce is a pretty well-known name at this point, but you still don’t
hear him mentioned as a top-flight power hitter. That’s a travesty
given his home run totals, which have increased in each of his
previous five seasons. He hit 34 last year and 32 the year before,
and is well on his way with 18 this season. He won’t smell .300, and
at .271 in 2013 that stands true, but he leads the league in doubles
with 26, and is also an underrated defender in right.

Milwaukee
Brewers – Jonathan Lucroy, C

It’s
strange to think that a team doing as poorly as the Brewers has
several household names (Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, Francisco
Rodriguez), which leaves Lucroy lost in the weeds. But the
27-year-old backstop is really the backbone of the Brewers. He hit
.320-12-58 last year in just 96 games, and is at .268-11-48 this year
in 76 games. Those are similar numbers to 2011 (.265-12-59 in 136
games), when the Brewers reached the NLCS. He has struggled to throw
out runners behind the plate, as he has allowed more stolen bases
(45) than any National League catcher, but then again, the Brewers
have probably allowed more baserunners than anyone in the NL.

Pittsburgh
Pirates – Pedro Alvarez, 3B

The
powerful Alvarez is getting his dues as the Pirates begin to gain
national attention, but he still flies under the radar. He belted 30
homers last year despite hitting .244, and has 22 this year with a
similar .249 average. He is an inconsistent defender, but his big
swing is what have Pirates fans thinking playoffs for the first time
in over two decades.

St.
Louis Cardinals – Allen Craig, 1B

I
would go so far as to argue that Craig may be the most underrated
player in all of baseball. While not the sole reason, Craig was a
major factor in St. Louis’ decision not to go overboard in trying to
keep Albert Pujols. Craig showed plenty of promise through the 2011
season (.315, 11, 40), and filled Pujols’ shoes admirably last season
(.307, 22, 92 in 119 games), and both years those numbers could have
been much more impressive if not for injuries costing him significant
playing time. This season, he is not only a run-producing machine
(.325, 10, 69 in 84 games), but a master of the clutch as well (.476
average with RISP, .488 RISP/2 outs), and he has stayed healthy. No,
Cardinals fans won’t suddenly forget Pujols, but Craig is certainly
doing his part, and it’s amazing more people outside of St. Louis
haven’t taken notice. It’s hard to argue Joey Votto getting the
starting All-Star nod, but Craig being a reserve just seems wrong.

National
League West

Arizona
Diamondbacks – Patrick Corbin, SP

In
the time it took me to write from the Braves to the D’backs, I
realized that while Freddie Freeman is a legitimate MVP candidate, if
the award were given out right now, it would probably need to go to
Corbin. If not for the brilliance of the sophomore lefty, the
first-place Diamondbacks would be fighting the Padres for NL West
cellar space. Corbin has been magnificent, going 10-1 with a 2.40 ERA
and allowing a measly 90 hits in 123.2 innings pitched while striking
out 99 batters and issuing just 31 walks. Each passing day, the
Angels look more and more foolish for dealing Corbin (along with Joe
Saunders, Rafael Rodriguez and later Tyler Skaggs) for Dan Haren.
(Disclaimer: It would have been very fair of me to go with Corbin’s
fellow All-Star, Paul Goldschmidt, here, who is also worthy of MVP
consideration).

Colorado
Rockies – Michael Cuddyer, RF

The
former Twin gained a little national recognition with a 27-game
hitting streak, but has mostly gone unnoticed in Denver this season
despite stellar numbers (.338, 15, 52). Cuddyer had several strong
seasons with the Twins, including a 32-homer campaign in 2009, but
looks to have developed into a complete hitter this season. He has
never batted above .284 in his career, but has always been a steady
player who appears to have taken a big step forward this year, even
if not many people have noticed.

Los Angeles
Dodgers – Kenley Jansen, RP

I think
the Brandon League experiment is finally over. Jansen has always had
closer-like stuff and it seems puzzling he wasn’t in the role to
begin the year. He hasn’t exactly been flawless, but his overall
numbers (2-3, 2.49) belie his potential to dominate (296 strikeouts
in 189 career innings pitched). If he can stay healthy, he can be the
stopper the Dodgers need to make a run in the NL West.

San Diego Padres –
Luke Gregerson, RP

Gregerson
is Old Reliable for San Diego, having never had an ERA above 3.24 in
four full seasons as a Padre entering 2013. He is 4-4 with a 2.68 ERA
this year in 40 games, and his sidearm delivery has enabled him to
have more strikeouts than innings pitched in three of his first four
seasons. For a Padres team lacking impact players, Gregerson has been
one of the few constants and should be considered among the game’s
premier late-inning relievers.

San Francisco
Giants – Madison Bumgarner, SP

Bumgarner
may be a stretch for this list, considering he has pitched 15 shutout
innings in two World Series starts, but it still feels like he goes
unmentioned when discussing the game’s elite pitchers, which he
certainly is. The southpaw with the smooth delivery has been
remarkably consistent, with ERAs of 3.00, 3.21, 3.37 and 3.05 this
year while compiling a 45-35 record. He averages 8.2 K/9 IP in his
career, and his outstanding 2013 campaign has been even more critical
considering the struggles of ace Matt Cain. At just 23 years of age,
here’s hoping people start taking notice of Bumgarner soon.