Most Underrated MLB Players Today
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Whit Merrifield has been a steady player for the Kansas City Royals since making his rookie debut in 2016.Every Major League Baseball team has undervalued players, so we’ve put together a 25-man roster of undervalued big leaguers.
These underappreciated players run the gamut from cagey veterans with track records of success to rising stars who don't get the fanfare of their more recognizable, and ballyhooed, teammates.
Their salaries vary from a high of $11.5 million to a low of $565,000, the MLB minimum. This team — which could hold its own against any current MLB club — includes players who led the National League in wins and paced the majors in hits in 2018, as well as one who pitched just four games.
Meet the most underrated players in baseball.
Note: Stats are through April 29, 2019.
Starting pitcher: Kyle Freeland
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Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland throws during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019.Team: Colorado Rockies
Age: 25
MLB experience: 3 years (2017-present)
2019 salary: $565,000
Career stats: 30-23, 3.64 ERA, 1.347 WHIP, 314 K, 147 BB
2018 stats: 17-7, 2.85 ERA, 1.245 WHIP, 173 K, 70 BB
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Kyle Freeland is coming off a 2018 campaign in which he posted a 2.85 ERA, the lowest for a full season in Rockies franchise history. He finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
But the big leagues are all about adjustments, and Freeland still needs to prove he's not a one-season wonder.
Starting pitcher: Carlos Carrasco
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Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco delivers against the Miami Marlins in 2019.Team: Cleveland Indians
Age: 32
MLB experience: 10 years (2009-11, 2013-present)
2019 salary: $9.75 million
Career stats: 81-65, 3.77 ERA, 1.189 WHIP, 1,177 K, 285 BB
2018 stats: 17-10, 3.38 ERA, 1.125 WHIP, 231 K, 43 BB
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: In a 2017 game against Detroit, Carlos Carrasco pitched an immaculate inning, striking out the side on the minimum nine pitches.
He became only the second pitcher in Indians history to do so, and the 84th in major league history.
Still he’s considered the third- or fourth-best pitcher on his own staff.
Starting pitcher: Miles Mikolas
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St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas throws against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018.Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 30
MLB experience: 5 years (2012-14, 2018-present)
2019 salary: $8 million
Career stats: 25-12, 3.74 ERA, 1.190 WHIP, 231 K, 72 BB
2018 stats: 18-4, 2.83 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, 146 K, 29 BB
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Nicknamed the "Lizard King," Miles Mikolas played for the Yomuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2015.
In 2018, he was a major league All-Star, led the NL in wins and finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting.
Starting pitcher: Vince Velasquez
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Philadelphia Phillies starter Vince Velasquez pitches against the Colorado Rockies in 2019.Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 26
MLB experience: 5 years (2015-present)
2019 salary: $2.249 million
Career stats: 21-27, 4.48 ERA, 1.348 WHIP, 468 K, 169 BB
2018 stats: 9-12, 4.85 ERA, 1.343 WHIP, 161 K, 59 BB
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Vince Velasquez has been a feast-or-famine pitcher with the Phillies. Entering the 2019 season, 24 of his 69 starts with the team were considered quality outings.
But the right-hander has shown flashes of nastiness. Over 15 starts from May 5 to Aug. 3 in 2018, he posted a 3.12 ERA, held opponents to a .196 average recorded 95 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Starting pitcher: Julio Urias
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Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Julio Urias throws against the San Francisco Giants in a 2019 spring training game.Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 22
MLB experience: 4 years (2016-present)
2019 salary: $565,000
Career stats: 7-6, 3.71 ERA, 1.383 WHIP, 132 K, 54 BB
2018 stats: 1-1, 3.66 ERA, 0.250 WHIP, 7 K, 0 BB
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Julio Urias is young (age 22) with great potential.
In seven games (four starts) to open the 2019 season, Urias is 2-2 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 24.1 innings pitched.
In 2016 at age 19, Urias struck out 84 with a 3.39 ERA in 77 major league innings, and the left-hander has shown he’s recovered from shoulder surgery.
Relief pitcher: Chad Green
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New York Yankees relief pitcher Chad Green delivers a pitch against the Texas Rangers in 2018.Team: New York Yankees
Age: 28
MLB experience: 4 years (2016-present)
2019 salary: $598,650
Career stats: 15-9, 3.32 ERA, 1.076 WHIP, 256 K, 198.0 IP
2018 stats: 8-3, 2.50 ERA, 1.044 WHIP, 94 K, 75.2 IP
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Chad Green made his major league debut with the Yankees in 2016 as a starting pitcher and went to the bullpen as a situational reliever in 2017.
The right-hander became one of the Yankees' best bullpen arms and seemed almost unhittable at times, throwing mostly fastballs.
He will be a serious threat once he develops a solid secondary pitch.
Relief pitcher: Amir Garrett
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Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Amir Garrett throws during a 2018 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.Team: Cincinnati Reds
Age: 27
MLB experience: 3 years (2017-present)
2019 salary: $567,500
Career stats: 5-11, 5.52 ERA, 1.409 WHIP, 152 K, 148.1 IP
2018 stats: 1-2, 4.29 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 71 K, 63 IP
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Amir Garrett is a former basketball player who struggled as a starter in 2018.
But the 6-foot-5 left-hander struck out 71 batters in 63 innings over 66 relief appearances.
He can be a force out of the bullpen for the rebuilding Reds.
Relief pitcher: Jose Alvarado
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Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Alvarado against the San Francisco Giants during a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, April 7, 2019.Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 23
MLB experience: 3 years (2017-present)
2019 salary: $570,600
Career stats: 1-11, 2.60 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 129 K, 107.1 IP
2018 stats: 1-6, 2.39 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 80 K, 64 IP
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Jose Alvarado showed an ability to dominate batters in 2018, striking out 80 batters in 64 innings.
Expect the 23-year-old left-hander from Venezuela to get better.
Relief pitcher: Richard Rodriguez
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Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez throws against the Cincinnati Reds in 2019.Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 29
MLB experience: 3 years (2017-present)
2019 salary: $650,000
Career stats: 4-5, 3.64 ERA, 1.258 WHIP, 105 K, 89 IP
2018 stats: 4-3, 2.47 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, 88 K, 69.1 IP
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: According to MLB.com, Ricardo Rodriguez recorded 52 strikeouts on four-seam fastballs below 94 miles per hour in 2018, more than any reliever in the major leagues. He threw the four-seamer three out of every four pitches and averaged 93 mph on the gun.
That velocity is below average for an MLB reliever in 2018, MLB.com reports, but with his high spin rate and aggressive approach in pitching up in the zone, batters had only a .260 slugging percentage against him.
Relief pitcher: Will Smith
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San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Will Smith works against a San Diego Padres batter in 2019.Team: San Francisco Giants
Age: 29
MLB experience: 7 years (2012-16, 2018-present)
2019 salary: $4.225 million
Career stats: 21-22, 3.66 ERA, 1.279 WHIP, 413 K, 359 IP
2018 stats: 2-3, 2.55 ERA, 0.981 WHIP, 71 K, 53 IP
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Will Smith has appeared 310 games in six-plus major league seasons with the Royals, Brewers and Giants.
In 2018, the left-hander faced 72 left-handed batters and struck out 30 of them.
He also can be tough on right-handed hitters, who went 5-for-52 (.096) against his slider, MLB.com reports.
Relief pitcher: Brad Peacock
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Brad Peacock works against the Colorado Rockies in 2018.Team: Houston Astros
Age: 31
MLB experience: 8 years (2011, 2013-present)
2019 salary: $3.11 million
Career stats: 29-26, 4.05 ERA, 1.315 WHIP, 514 K, 491.1 IP
2018 stats: 3-5, 3.46 ERA, 1.169 WHIP, 96 K, 56 IP
World Series championships: One (2017)
Bottom line: Brad Peacock was a key to the Astros' run to their first World Series title in 2017.
He can start or work out of the bullpen with a good fastball, hard slider, and a changeup, which he added in 2019.
Relief pitcher: Seranthony Dominguez
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Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez throws to the Baltimore Orioles in 2018.Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 24
MLB experience: 2 years (2018-present)
2019 salary: $564,000
Career stats: 5-5, 3.41 ERA, 1.037 WHIP, 92 K, 71.1 IP
2018 stats: 2-5, 2.95 ERA, 0.931 WHIP, 74 K, 58 IP
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Seranthony Dominguez made his major league debut in May 2018 after dominating in the minors.
The right-hander has an electric fastball and impressive slider.
He had a 2.95 ERA in his rookie year with 16 saves and 74 strikeouts over 58 innings.
Catcher: Francisco Cervelli
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Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli celebrates after scoring the game-winning run in a 2019 game against the Cincinnati Reds.Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 33
MLB experience: 12 years (2008-present)
2019 salary: $11.5 million
Career stats: .269/.358/.377, 36 HR, 261 RBI
2018 stats: .259/.378/.431, 12 HR, 57 RBI
World Series championships: One (2009)
Bottom line: Though his 2018 season was disrupted by concussions, Franciso Cervelli produced career highs in home runs and runs batted in.
Among catchers with at least 400 plate appearances, he was tied for second in the majors in run creation, MLB.com reports.
He also knows how to call a game and is a valuable leader.
Catcher: Robinson Chirinos
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Houston Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos hits a three-run home run against the Cleveland Indians in 2019.Team: Houston Astros
Age: 34
MLB experience: 8 years (2011, 2013-present)
2019 salary: $5.75 million
Career stats: .234/.326/.440, 71 HR, 217 RBI
2018 stats: .222/.338/.419, 18 HR, 65 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: The oldest player on this all-underrated team had a breakout offensive season in 2018 with the Texas Rangers.
Robinson Chirinos produced career highs in games played, plate appearances, home runs, RBI, hits and — uh — strikeouts.
The campaign was good enough for him to more than double his salary.
First Base: Jose Martinez
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St. Louis Cardinal Jose Martinez scores against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019.Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 30
MLB experience: 4 years (2016-present)
2019 salary: $1.125 million
Career stats: .314/.374/.480, 33 HR, 146 RBI
2018 stats: .305/.364/.457, 17 HR, 83 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Jose Martinez played every day in 2018 and was the Cardinals' best hitter. With the addition of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Martinez has gone back to the bench, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
But it's still tough to get a fastball by Martinez, who has a .373 career average as a pinch hitter and bats .328 with men on base.
Second Base: Whit Merrifield
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Kansas City Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield, right, beats the throw to Detroit Tigers shortstop Jordy Mercer for a double in a 2019 game.Team: Kansas City Royals
Age: 30
MLB experience: 4 years (2016-present)
2019 salary: $1 million
Career stats: .293/.342/.444, 38 HR, 181 RBI
2018 stats: .304/.367/.438, 12 HR, 60 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Walt Merrifield got his first big league opportunity at age 27, and made the most of it.
Merrifield can play just about any position and has speed.
In 2018, he led the majors in hits (192) and stolen bases (45), becoming just the third player since World War II to accomplish the feat, according to MLB.com.
Third Base: Anthony Rendon
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Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon fields a ball during a 2019 game against the San Francisco Giants.Team: Washington Nationals
Age: 29
MLB experience: 7 years (2013-present)
2019 salary: $18.8 million
Career stats: .287/.363/.476, 108 HR, 438 RBI
2018 stats: .308/.374/.535, 24 HR. 92 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Anthony Rendon still flies under the national radar even though he's posted some big offensive numbers.
Since 2017, he has averaged 24 home runs, 42 doubles, 96 RBIs and slashed .305/.389/.534 per season.
Shortstop: Marcus Semien
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Oakland Athletics Marcus Semien, left, completes a double play against the Houston Astros in 2019.Team: Oakland Athletics
Age: 28
MLB experience: 7 years (2013-present)
2019 salary: $5.9 million
Career stats: .251/.314/.405, 79 HR, 283 RBI
2018 stats: .255/.318/.388, 15 HR, 70 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Marcus Semien gets the call here due to his defense, which he has improved.
According to MLB.com, in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, "he rated negatively on the defensive runs saved scale (minus-15 total), but [in 2018], thanks to improvements with his footwork, throwing mechanics and range, he was a plus-9 contributor."
Infielder: Travis Shaw
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Milwaukee Brewer Travis Shaw crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals in 2019.Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Age: 29
MLB experience: 5 years (2015-present)
2019 salary: $4.675 million
Career stats: .250/.329/.464, 96 HR, 302 RBI
2018 stats: .241/.345/.480, 32 HR, 86 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Travis Shaw has found new life with the Milwaukee Brewers after being traded from the Boston Red Sox after the 2016 seasons
In his first two seasons with the Brewers, he hit 63 home runs (31 in 2017, 32 in 2018) and drove in 187 runs (101, 86).
Infielder: Jose Peraza
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Cincinnati Red Jose Peraza breaks his bat grounding out during a 2019 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.Team: Cincinnati Reds
Age: 25
MLB experience: 5 years (2015-present)
2019 salary: $2.775 million
Career stats: .276/.312/.374, 24 HR, 128 RBI
2018 stats: .288/.326/.416, 14 HR, 58 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Jose Peraza showed tremendous improvement in 2018, setting many offensive career highs while playing in 157 games.
Peraza led the Reds in hits (182) and came close to breaking the single-season team record. Only Barry Larkin, who had 185 hits in 1990, had more hits at shortstop for the Reds in a season.
Right Field: Adam Eaton
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Washington Nationals runner Adam Eaton slides safe into home against the Colorado Rockies in 2019.Team: Washington Nationals
Age: 30
MLB experience: 8 years (2012-present)
2019 salary: $8.4 million
Career stats: .287/.363/.414, 43 HR, 233 RBI
2018 stats: .301/.394/.411, 5 HR, 33 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Adam Eaton is a great leadoff hitter, solid defender and the epitome of a dirt dog.
The biggest challenge for him is staying on the field. He played 23 games in 2017, his first season in Washington, before tearing his ACL. In 2018, he missed two months with a left ankle injury.
Center Field: Eddie Rosario
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Minnesota Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario slides toward a fly ball against the Cleveland Indians in 2018.Team: Minnesota Twins
Age: 27
MLB experience: 5 years (2015-present)
2019 salary: $4.19 million
Career stats: .277/.309/.476, 85 HR, 262 RBI
2018 stats: .288/.317/.479, 24 HR, 77 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: The sky is the limit for Eddie Rosario, who hit 51 home runs in the 2017 (27) and 2018 (24) seasons combined.
Expect his power numbers to keep increasing.
Left Field: Tommy Pham
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Tampa Bay Ray Tommy Pham runs home against the Baltimore Orioles in 2018.Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 31
MLB experience: 6 years (2014-present)
2019 salary: $4.1 million
Career stats: .280/.377/.478, 62 HR, 185 RBI
2018 stats: .275/.367/.464, 21 HR, 63 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Tommy Pham had a breakout big league season in 2017 with the Cardinals.
After being traded to the Rays in 2018, he hit .343 with a .448 on-base percentage and .622 slugging percentage in 39 games.
He can post some nice numbers in a full season.
Outfielder: Brandon Nimmo
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New York Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo chases a ball that went for a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018.Team: New York Mets
Age: 26
MLB experience: 4 years (2016-present)
2019 salary: $598,285
Career stats: .254/.382/.433, 26 HR, 83 RBI
2018 stats: .363/.404/.486, 17 HR, 47 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Brandon Nimmo has gone from bench player for the Mets to a regular starter.
He hit a career-high 17 home runs in 2018, and still has room to grow.
Outfielder: Jorge Soler
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Kansas City Royals designated hitter Jorge Soler hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in 2019.Team: Kansas City Royals
Age: 27
MLB experience: 6 years (2014-19)
2019 salary: $4.667 million
Career stats: .249/.323/.434, 46 HR, 155 RBI
2018 stats: .265/.354/.466, 9 HR, 28 RBI
World Series championships: None
Bottom line: Jorge Soler has all the talent in the world. Injuries have been his biggest issue.
If the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Cuban slugger can stay healthy, watch out. He could average 30 home runs a season.