More so than any other sport, baseball is all about the numbers. Sometimes however, you need to dig deep and find out if some players are truly as good as the numbers suggest. Here is every MLB team’s most underrated player.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt
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Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt
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Fans around the league know the Diamondbacks first baseman is a good player, but they don’t know just how good he is. Goldschmidt, who finished second in MVP voting in 2013, was the leading candidate for the award in 2014 until fracturing his hand in early August. “Goldy” is a victim of the market he plays in and if he played in a city like Los Angeles or New York, he’d be regarded as one of the best players in the game.
Atlanta Braves: Julio Teheran
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Atlanta Braves: Julio Teheran
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Over the last two seasons, Teheran has averaged over 200 innings per year with an ERA of just 3.16. Still only 23 years old, the Braves righty is truly one of the great young stars in baseball today. His rookie 2013 season was great, but he got even better in 2014 and there’s no reason to think Teheran won’t keep improving.
Baltimore Orioles: Darren O’Day
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Baltimore Orioles: Darren O’Day
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O’Day was simply dominant out of the bullpen for Buck Showalter and the Orioles in 2014. The side-winding setup man baffled hitters to the tune of a 0.88 WHIP and 1.70 ERA. With over a strikeout per inning and only 42 hits allowed in 68.2 innings, O’Day has become one of the best relievers in all of baseball.
Boston Red Sox: Mike Napoli
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Boston Red Sox: Mike Napoli
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Napoli hasn’t put up close to the insane numbers he put up in 2011 with the Rangers, but he’s still one of the more feared hitters in the AL East. The catcher/first baseman is a lock for 20 home runs if he stays healthy and while his average slipped in 2014, his .370 on-base percentage more than made up for it.
Chicago Cubs: Jake Arrieta
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Chicago Cubs: Jake Arrieta
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Seemingly out of nowhere, Jake Arrieta became nearly unhittable as the 2014 season progressed. In 25 starts, the Cubs right-hander allowed less than one base runner to reach per inning, with a 2.53 ERA to boot. With the addition of Jon Lester to the staff, the Cubs have a pair of aces to try and lead them back to the playoffs in 2015.
Chicago White Sox: Jose Quintana
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Chicago White Sox: Jose Quintana
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I doubt very many fans outside of Chicago have even heard of Jose Quintana. The White Sox lefty has pitched 200 innings each of the last two seasons for the South Siders. In 2014, Quintana’s 3.32 ERA is mighty impressive considering the White Sox's dismal 73-win season.
Cincinnati Reds: Devin Mesoraco
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Cincinnati Reds: Devin Mesoraco
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The Reds catcher came out of nowhere to lead all major league catchers in home runs (25) despite only playing 114 games. He’s much more than a power hitter, with a more than respectable .273 average. In a league where catchers aren’t expected to do much offensively, Mesoraco’s skills are highly-sought after.
Cleveland Indians: Cody Allen
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Cleveland Indians: Cody Allen
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“Who?”
“Cody Allen.”
“Yeah, but who is he?”
“He’s one of the best closers in baseball.”
“No he’s not, I would have heard of him. You must be mistaken?”
“Nope. He had a 2.07 ERA and struck out 91 batters in 69 innings, and was dominant in 2013 too.”
Colorado Rockies: Corey Dickerson
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Colorado Rockies: Corey Dickerson
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Sure, he played half his games at Coors Field, but Dickerson’s numbers are good enough to make you think he might be the real deal. 24 home runs with a .312 average is a great statistical season no matter where you play, and if Dickerson backs those numbers up in 2015, it will be difficult to make a case against the outfielder as one of the rising stars in the game.
Detroit Tigers: J.D. Martinez
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Detroit Tigers: J.D. Martinez
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The Tigers outfielder struggled in his first three seasons in the big leagues with the Houston Astros, but broke out in a big way after joining the Tigers in 2014. Martinez posted a .315 average with 23 home runs, and helped replace the power production the Tigers lost when they traded away Prince Fielder.
Houston Astros: Jose Altuve
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Houston Astros: Jose Altuve
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It’s hard to get any recognition when you play on one of baseball’s worst teams, but Altuve had a remarkable 2014 season for Houston. The 5-foot-6 second baseman led all players in hits by a landslide with 225, and added 56 steals. Still just 24, be sure to keep your eyes on one of MLB’s most exciting stars in the coming years.
Kansas City Royals: Lorenzo Cain
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Kansas City Royals: Lorenzo Cain
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He’s the No. 3 hitter for the AL Champion Kansas City Royals and proved his worth in the postseason. Cain has the versatility to play all three outfield positions and plays them as well as anyone. The 28-year-old finally put all his tools together in 2014 and finished the season with a .301 average.
Los Angeles Angels: Garrett Richards
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Los Angeles Angels: Garrett Richards
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The young right-handed hurler is one of the big reasons why the Angels had the best record in baseball and won the AL West by 10 games. Richards can get his fastball up near triple digits and was a leading Cy Young candidate before a knee injury in August ended his season early.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu
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Los Angeles Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu
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It’s easy to be forgotten on a pitching staff that includes Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke. Ryu is as good of a No. 3 or 4 starter you will find, and the hefty lefty backed up his great rookie 2013 season in 2014. Ryu has a career 3.17 ERA in two seasons in Los Angeles.
Miami Marlins: Henderson Alvarez
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Miami Marlins: Henderson Alvarez
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Alvarez finished sixth in the NL with a 2.65 ERA and became the Marlins' new ace after the devastating elbow injury to José Fernandez. The right-hander tossed three complete game shutouts, tied for the MLB lead with Rick Porcello and Adam Wainwright.
Milwaukee Brewers: Scooter Gennett
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Milwaukee Brewers: Scooter Gennett
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After a great half-season in 2013 and a full year of production in 2014, it’s clear that the Brewers second baseman is going to be around for a while. Gennett’s career .300 average is mighty impressive for just a second-year player, and all signs indicate the Brewers have found their second baseman for at least the next 10 years.
Minnesota Twins: Phil Hughes
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Minnesota Twins: Phil Hughes
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Hughes still carries the stigma of failing to live up to his star prospect status with the Yankees. Perhaps he just needed to get out of New York, but the right-hander thrived in his first year in Minnesota. Hughes enjoyed career-bests in every important category and finished seventh in the Cy Young voting.
New York Mets: Lucas Duda
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New York Mets: Lucas Duda
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Duda had bounced around the minor leagues for most of his career, but took advantage of his opportunity in 2014. The first baseman finished third in the NL with 30 home runs and fifth with 92 RBIs.
New York Yankees: Dellin Betances
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New York Yankees: Dellin Betances
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Betances was just about as dominant out of the bullpen as I've seen in baseball over the past several years. The 6-foot-8 reliever gave up only 46 hits in 90 innings, while striking out 135 hitters in a setup role for the Yankees. With last year’s closer David Robertson signing with the White Sox, Betances may be asked to step in as the Yanks’ closer in 2015.
Oakland Athletics: Sonny Gray
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Oakland Athletics: Sonny Gray
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The 2011 first-round pick out of Vanderbilt University has quickly and quietly become one of the best pitchers in the AL. In his first two seasons in the big leagues, Gray has a 2.99 ERA and is the ace on the Oakland A’s staff.
Philadelphia Phillies: Ben Revere
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Philadelphia Phillies: Ben Revere
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Before I praise him, how is it possible for a leadoff man to draw only 13 walks in over 600 plate appearances? So, he doesn’t quite work the count quite like you’d want, but Revere’s NL-leading 184 hits, 49 stolen bases and outstanding outfield defense make up for it.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Josh Harrison
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Pittsburgh Pirates: Josh Harrison
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You probably knew Harrison had a good year in 2014, but did you know he was good enough to finish ninth in the MVP voting? Much of Harrison’s value is in his versatility in the field. He started 55 games at third base, 44 at the three outfield spots, five at second base and four at shortstop. His .315 average led all Pirates players.
San Diego Padres: Tyson Ross
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San Diego Padres: Tyson Ross
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Ross split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen for the Padres in 2013, but found a permanent home in the rotation last season. The right-hander made 31 starts for San Diego, was named to the All-Star team, and finished with a 2.81 ERA. San Diego is poised to make a run at the NL West title in 2015 and Ross is expected to be a big part of it.
San Francisco Giants: Jeremy Affeldt
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San Francisco Giants: Jeremy Affeldt
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Since joining the Giants prior to the 2009 season, Affeldt has been brilliant for San Francisco and a major part of all three of the team’s World Series-winning bullpens. The left-handed reliever was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series. His 2.1 scoreless innings pitched in that decisive game gave Affeldt 22 consecutive scoreless outings in the postseason, just one behind the all-time record held by Mariano Rivera.
Seattle Mariners: Tom Wilhelmsen
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Seattle Mariners: Tom Wilhelmsen
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Seattle’s bullpen was a big reason for their 87-win season. Wilhelmsen was one of the key contributors that helped bridge the gap between the starters and closer Fernando Rodney. The tall right-handed reliever allowed only 47 hits in 79 innings pitched and even made two starts for the Mariners.
St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Carpenter
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St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Carpenter
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Matt Carpenter isn’t your prototypical third baseman. The Cardinals often utilized Carpenter at the very top of their lineup to set up guys like Matt Holliday in the heart of the order. He hit only eight home runs, but got on base at a .375 clip and a was the Cardinals’ best player in the postseason.
Tampa Bay Rays: Jake McGee
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Tampa Bay Rays: Jake McGee
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Yet another reliever to make the list, it’s become clear the relief pitcher position is the most underappreciated in the sport. McGee got his first chance to close for the Rays in 2014 and it looks unlikely he’ll lose that role any time in the near future. McGee finished with a 1.89 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.
Texas Rangers: Adrian Beltre
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Texas Rangers: Adrian Beltre
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It cannot be overstated how awful the Rangers were in 2014. Yu Darvish and Prince Fielder were injured and no one played at a high level except for one man: Adrian Beltre. The third baseman hit .327 with an OPS of .879 and led the team in every offensive category.
Toronto Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman
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Toronto Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman
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The Blue Jays initially placed the rookie in the bullpen after calling him up to the big league club in early May. Stroman struggled, but then took off once being placed in the starting rotation. The 5-foot-9 Duke University alum posted a 3.29 ERA in 20 games as a starter.
Washington Nationals: Jordan Zimmermann
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Washington Nationals: Jordan Zimmermann
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The Nationals rotation was the best in baseball in 2014. Zimmermann has a strong case that he was the best of the bunch, with overall numbers better than those of both Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister. The hard-throwing righty finished with a 2.66 ERA and pitched 8.2 scoreless innings in Game 2 of the NLDS before the bullpen blew the lead and eventually the game.
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