Most Underrated Player for Each MLB Team
In this piece, I examine the most underrated players, for all 30 MLB clubs.Arizona Diamondbacks - Gabriel Moreno: Since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays, in December of 2022, Gabriel Moreno has been the Dbacks starting catcher.
In his first season with Arizona in 2023, Moreno captured a Gold Glove, while accumulating a 4.3 WAR. This year, he was two-win player at 2.6.
Atlanta Braves - Aaron Bummer: For seven seasons, Aaron Bummer was a fixture in the Chicago White Sox bullpen, where he posted a 3.84 ERA.
Last offseason, the White Sox dealt Bummer to the Braves. The 31-year-old southpaw performed well in Atlanta, with an ERA of 3.58. He struck out 69 batters in 55.1 innings, and allowed just two homers.
Baltimore Orioles - Ramón Urías: Over the last five seasons, Ramón Urías has become a useful, piece, when it comes to the Baltimore Orioles’ infield depth.
Urías has registered a career 108 OPS+. In 2022, he was the recipient of the AL Gold Glove for third basemen.
Boston Red Sox - Zack Kelly: There’s a reliever, for the Boston Red Sox, who happens to share a first and last name, with a popular Saved By the Bell couple.
Zack Kelly has spent parts of three seasons pitching in Boston’s bullpen, but 2024 was his first extensive work, as he put up a 3.97 ERA over 49 games.
Chicago Cubs - Nico Hoerner: Despite having a 4.2 WAR in 2022 and a 5.1 WAR in 2023, Nico Hoerner somehow remains an underrated infielder.
During his six years with the Cubs, Hoerner has literally been a league average player offensively, with an OPS+ of 100. However, the glove is Hoerner’s meal ticket, as he’s compiled +26 Defensive Runs Saved at second base. He won the NL Gold Glove for second basemen in ‘23.
Chicago White Sox - Andrew Vaughan: While Luis Robert is undoubtedly the best player, on the Chicago White Sox, an underrated cog in their lineup is Andrew Vaughan.
Vaughan has averaged 18 home runs, in four seasons on the South Side of Chicago. He does better work against lefty pitching, with a .771 OPS.
Cincinnati Reds - Spencer Steer: 2023 was Spencer Steer’s first full season in Cincinnati, and it was a productive one, posting an OPS of .820, while being a three-win player on offense (3.5 WAR).
This season, Steer managed to become a 20/20 guy, with 20 homers and 25 stolen bases.
Cleveland Guardians - Tim Herrin: During his rookie year in 2023, Tim Herrin struggled as a rookie reliever, as he recorded a 5.53 ERA.
The 6’6 southpaw completely flipped the switch this year. Herrin was a workhorse, in a Cleveland Guardians’ pen that was the best in baseball. He made 75 appearances, putting up a stellar, 1.92 ERA, a WHIP of 0.92, and had a .173 batting average against.
Colorado Rockies - Ezequiel Tovar: Ezequiel Tovar took over as the Colorado Rockies starting shortstop in 2023, and has not looked back.
Tovar’s ‘23 campaign resulted in a 2.5 WAR; thanks mainly to superb, defensive metrics, as he recorded a +13 DRS.
This year, Tovar made strides offensively, with a .763 OPS, along with an NL best 45 doubles. His +10 DRS was enough to make him the first Rockies shortstop to capture a Gold Glove since Troy Tulowitzki in 2011.
While playing on a bad Rockies team plays a part, Tovar is quietly turning into a solid, all-around shortstop.
Detroit Tigers - Kerry Carpenter: Despite dealing with a back injury this year, Kerry Carpenter put up his best offensive season to date. In 296 plate appearances, he slashed .284/.345/.587.
Carpenter certainly helped propel the Tigers to an improbable postseason run. During the ALDS against Cleveland, he had an OPS of .896. In Game 2 of that series, Carpenter delivered a ninth inning, go-ahead, three-run homer off arguably the best closer in MLB, Emmanuel Clase.
Houston Astros - Yainer Diaz: Entering the 2025 season, perhaps there’s not a more underrated offensive hitting catcher in the game than Houston Astros backstop Yainer Díaz.
Since 2023, Diaz is slugging .490, which is the highest mark among MLB catchers in that span. This past season, he accumulated a 3.5 oWAR.
Kansas City Royals - Freddy Fermin: While Yainer Diaz is an underrated offensive catcher, the most underrated from a defensive standpoint might just be Freddy Fermin of the Kansas City Royals.
As a backup in 2023, Fermin registered a DRS of +8, along with a 31.4% caught stealing.
The defense somehow was even better, for Fermin this year, as he had a +16 DRS, and his 44.7% caught stealing rate was tops in the AL.
Los Angeles Angels - Luis Rengifo: Over the past six seasons Luis Rengifo has been a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
The switch-hitting infielder is become a better hitter at the plate since 2022, posting a .757 OPS, with the Halos. In 2024, Rengifo hit .300, in 283 at-bats.
Los Angeles Dodgers - Miguel Rojas: Over the past decade, there hasn’t been a more unheralded defensive infielder in the big leagues than Miguel Rojas.
As a 35-year-old this past season, Rojas had a career best 3.4 WAR. He played mostly shortstop - filling in for an injured Mookie Betts.
This offseason, the Dodgers picked up Rojas’ $5 million dollar club option for next year.
Miami Marlins - Otto Lopez: One of the more underrated moves made by the Miami Marlins this year was picking up infielder Otto Lopez off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
As the Marlins primary second baseman in 2024, Lopez was sneaky good, compiling a WAR of 2.6. He stole 20 bases in 24 attempts (83.3% success rate).
On the defensive side, Lopez recorded a +9 DRS - fifth best among MLB 2B.
Milwaukee Brewers - Bryan Hudson: In 2023, Bryan Hudson pitched for the Dodgers as a rookie. It didn’t go well, posting a 7.27 ERA, in six games.
Looking to add bullpen depth, the Brewers acquired Hudson from the Dodgers entering this year.
Hudson was given a chance by Milwaukee, and took full advantage. The 6’8 lefty made 43 appearances out of the Brewers’ bullpen, in which he had an ERA of 1.73, and limiting baserunners to a 0.72 WHIP.
Minnesota Twins - Griffin Jax: As a rookie with the Minnesota Twins in 2021, Griffin Jax struggled as a starter, to the tune of a 6.37 ERA.
Since then, Jax has been terrific, in a relief role. 2024 was a career year for him, as he posted a 2.03 ERA, a 1.94 FIP, and striking out 95 batters in 71 innings of work (12.0 K/9).
There’s been internal discussions among the Twins this offseason about moving Jax back into the rotation.
New York Mets - Mark Vientos: The New York Mets appeared to have found their third baseman moving forward, in the form of Mark Vientos.
Vientos had a breakout season for the Mets this year, as he put up an OPS of .837, 27 home runs, and was a three-win performer (3.1 WAR), in 111 games.
During the postseason, Vientos elevated his offensive game to an even bigger level, posting an OPS around 1.000 at .998, while hitting five homers.
New York Yankees - Clarke Schmidt: For parts of five seasons with the Yankees, Clarke Schmidt has a 3.95 ERA.
Although Schmidt dealt with a lat muscle strain this season, he managed to post a 2.85 ERA over 16 starts.
While it might sound odd, for a former first rounder to be underrated, Schmidt does find himself in a rotation consisting of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, and Luis Gil, who’s the reigning AL Rookie of the Year.
Philadelphia Phillies - Brandon Marsh: After getting traded from the Los Angeles Angels to the Philadelphia Phillies, in 2022, Brandon Marsh has become a fixture, within the Phillies’ outfield.
Marsh has been a three-win player, in each of the last two seasons, registering a 3.4 WAR in 2023 and 3.1 WAR in 2024.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Carmen Mlodzinski: The Pittsburgh Pirates had a supplemental pick, in the 2020 MLB Draft, and chose Carmen Mlodzinski out of South Carolina.
Having pitched mainly as a starter in the minors, the Pirates decided to transition Mlodzinski into a full-time reliever.
The move has definitely paid dividends, with Mlodzinski putting up an ERA of 2.91, along with a .616 OPS against, in two seasons pitching in the Pirates’ pen.
Sacramento Athletics - Lawrence Butler: 2023 was a struggle for Lawrence Butler, as a rookie with the Oakland Athletics, as he posted a .582 OPS.
The first half of 2024 wasn’t going well again for Butler, with a slash line of .211/.280/.406. But then, he went on a complete tear, in the second half, slashing .300/.345/.553. Butler hit 22 homers, stole 18 bases, and registered a 3.0 WAR.
San Diego Padres - Jake Cronenworth: In a San Diego Padres’ lineup loaded with talent, it’s easy to see why Jake Cronenworth would still be viewed as an under the radar bat, despite being an NL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2020, as well as a two-time All-Star.
During his five seasons in San Diego, Cronenworth has a .740 OPS, while collecting a 13.3 WAR.
San Francisco Giants - LaMonte Wade Jr: After being acquired by the San Francisco Giants from the Minnesota Twins, prior to the 2021 season, LaMonte Wade Jr. has been a vital piece, in the Giants’ lineup.
Wade has posted a .767 OPS, as a member of the Giants.
Seattle Mariners - Bryan Woo: With a last name that Ric Flair would be proud of, Bryan Woo debuted for the Seattle Mariners, in 2023, and was decent all told, with a 4.21 ERA.
This past season, Woo pitched even better, as he posted an ERA of 2.89 and a 0.90 WHIP over 22 starts.
A Mariners’ rotation that has Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Bryce Miller in it, Woo falls in the underrated category. I also think he’s become the best #5 starter in baseball right now.
St. Louis Cardinals - Lars Nootbaar: When it comes to homegrown position players, the St. Louis Cardinals seem to produce guys, who can contribute in the big leagues - more often than not. Lars Nootbaar is no exception.
Taken by the Cardinals, in the eighth round of the 2018 draft, Nootbaar has been a consistent bat, within St. Louis’ lineup, as he’s recorded a .774 OPS during his four years with the Cardinals.
Tampa Bay Rays - Zack Littell: In regards to Zack Littell, he’s certainly been a byproduct of the Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching factory.
Since arriving to the Rays, Littell has been a reliable, depth option. During the 2023 season, he had a 3.93 ERA, in 26 games; 14 of which were starts.
This year, Tampa Bay’s rotation was decimated by injuries, and Littell filled in as a full-time starter. He made 29 starts and posted an ERA of 3.63.
Texas Rangers - Josh Smith: Around the 2021 trade deadline, Josh Smith was a prospect the New York Yankees moved to the Texas Rangers, as part of the Joey Gallo deal.
Smith has served in a bench role, for the Rangers, and 2024 was a breakout year. He put up a 3.2 oWAR, while filling in for the injured Josh Jung, as well being the backup shortstop to Corey Seager.
For his efforts, Smith was named this year’s AL Silver Slugger winner among utility players.
Toronto Blue Jays - Bowden Francis: When the Toronto Blue Jays traded Rowdy Tellez to the Milwaukee Brewers, in July of 2021, Bowden Francis was one of the players acquired by Toronto.
Francis did outstanding work as a reliever with the Jays, in 2023, as he recorded a 1.73 ERA over 20 appearances.
In early August, Francis was inserted into Toronto’s rotation, and performed extremely well, with an ERA of 1.53, in nine starts.
Washington Nationals - Luis García Jr: The Washington Nationals are going with a youth movement heading into 2025, with the likes of James Wood and Dylan Crews.
Luis García Jr. has been with the Nats since 2020, but is still just 24. He’s also coming off his best season this year, putting up career-highs in average (.282), OPS (.762), and WAR (2.2). Garcia will be Washington’s second baseman to open 2025.