In today’s world, it’s hard to stay unnoticed if you’re good at something.
Especially for athletes, being underrated doesn’t last long. But, we still want to highlight some players having amazing seasons who might not be getting the attention they deserve.
One rule: no 2024 All-Stars allowed. If you made it to the All-Star Game this year, sorry, you’re already recognized.
Here are six standout players from each division in 2024 and a few honorable mentions.
AL East: Austin Wells, Yankees
Austin Wells has become a key player for the Yankees behind Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. His stats are impressive: .252/.343/.417 overall and .286/.379/.494 since June 1. He’s also great at pitch-framing and defense, which is surprising given his minor league reputation. Among catchers with 280 plate appearances, he ranked third with a 114 OPS+ and was tied for second among all catchers with 3.0 WAR per FanGraphs (including framing). The Yankees have found their future catcher in their 2020 first-round pick.
Honorable mention: Wilyer Abreu from the Red Sox has been fantastic against righties with a .282/.347/.545 line and 13 homers in 285 plate appearances. Edwin Uceta of the Rays boasts a remarkable 0.94 ERA with 35 strikeouts in just under 29 innings.
NL East: Mark Vientos, Mets
Vientos got another chance after Brett Baty struggled at third base for the Mets. Since being recalled on April 27, he’s been on fire with a .277/.338/.551 slash line and 19 home runs in just over 300 plate appearances. Though his defense is questionable , his bat is undeniably powerful and crucial for New York’s lineup.
Fans might feel excited seeing these underdogs shine so brightly!
Honorable mention: Raisel Iglesias of the Braves has never been an All-Star but has an incredible record this season with a minuscule ERA of 1.51 over nearly fifty innings pitched.
AL Central: Bailey Ober, Twins
Bailey Ober stands out not just because he’s tall but because he’s performing exceptionally well on the mound ! With a solid ERA of around three-and-a-half over close to two seasons now and consistently delivering quality starts, he’s one of those rare pitchers who excel despite modest fastball speeds by inducing weak contact from batters.
Honorable mention: Freddy Fermin of the Royals has hit his way into regular playtime while Cade Smith from Cleveland Guardians has proven himself as one dominant reliever this season!
NL Central: Michael Busch, Cubs
The Dodgers had too many good players so they traded Busch to Chicago where he thrived against right-handers hitting .258/.351/.460 overall including sixteen homers making him seventh-best among full-time first basemen based on OPS+. Despite Cubs’ struggles this year finding someone like Busch gives hope !
Honorable mention: Joey Bart now playing brilliantly for Pirates after struggling earlier elsewhere plus Tobias Myers pitching superbly helping Brewers amidst their constant pitcher rotation issues alongwith Willson Contreras bouncing back strong post-injury showing why such resilient players matter much more than numbers alone convey sometimes…
AL West: Brent Rooker, Athletics
Rooker didn’t make it into Midsummer Classic despite having better stats compared last year when he did! His current line reads impressive figures like .292 batting average coupled almost thirty home runs ranking him fifth among qualified hitters based adjusted OPS+.
Honorable mention: Bryce Miller part Mariners’ formidable rotation deserves more recognition given stellar performances alongside versatile Josh Smith Rangers contributing multiple roles efficiently proving value beyond mere statistics often overlooked casual observers…
NL West: Michael King, Padres
King started slow but picked pace rapidly becoming formidable force recent weeks boasting low ERA striking out hundred batters fourteen starts showcasing immense potential future games ahead…
Honorable mention: Diamondbacks roster filled talented individuals Christian Walker frequently mentioned possible snub though Jake McCarthy Joc Pederson rookie Justin Martinez all delivering noteworthy performances similar Giants’ Ryan Walker Rockies’ Brenton Doyle adding offensive prowess defensive excellence center field…
What do you think about these hidden gems? Let us know!
