One player from every MLB team that deserves more love

Being the closer for the Yankees is an unenviable position because no matter how good you are, you'll never be able to match the resume of Mariano Rivera, who is simply the standard for 9th-inning excellence. If fans in the Bronx can understand that certainty and not let it cloud their vision, however, they'll be able to appreciate what they have now. Righty Clay Holmes has quietly developed into one of the game's better stoppers, and for two and a half years now he's given the Yankees a reliable and consistent presence at the end of games. Last season, Holmes delivered a 2.86 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP, while striking out 71 hitters in 63 innings and converting a career-high 24 saves. 

Young Red Sox righty Brayan Bello's final stat line in 2023 was not insanely eye-opening, but he certainly showcased the stuff the makes scouts believe his future is bright. In his first full major league season, Bello made 28 starts and pitched to a respectable 4.24 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP. He fired 157 innings, punched out 132 hitters, and earned 12 victories. Heading into 2024, Bello's spot in the Boston rotation is secure, and it's likely he'll continue to get better as he gains more experience. 

The Blue Jays have a ton of high-profile names in the middle of their offense, which sometimes causes catcher Alejandro Kirk to get lost in the shuffle. But in the bottom half of Toronto's order, the club's backstop is somebody other teams can certainly not take lightly. Kirk was an all-star in 2022 when he crushed 14 home runs and won a Silver Slugger award. Last year was not nearly as productive for him, but he still drove in 43 runs in 372 at-bats and contributed 24 extra-base hits. 

Baltimore has assembled the premier young core in the American League, and fresh off an AL best 101 wins, the future is obviously bright in Charm City. The last thing the Orioles rivals needed was Baltimore to get lucky on a flier they took last January, but that's exactly what happened as it pertains to their addition of left-handed swinging Ryan O'Hearn. Once viewed as a future core player for the Royals, O'Hearn's career never got off the ground in Kansas City, where he slashed just .219/.293/.390 in 342 games. Baltimore acquired him for cash considerations just after New Year's Day, and once he got an opportunity with his new team, his narrative changed dramatically. In 112 games with the O's, O'Hearn slashed .289/.322/.480 with 14 home runs, 60 RBI, and 22 doubles, while even adding the first five stolen bases of his career. 

So many Rays players don't get nearly enough national attention due to the small market they play in, but I can't think of a more underappreciated player on their roster than first baseman Yandy Diaz. The Cuban-born slugger has quietly been a dynamic offensive player for a while now, and he's coming off easily his most productive campaign. Last year Diaz won the American League batting title by hitting .330, while setting new career highs in homers (22), RBI (78) and doubles (35). 

Left-handed swinging Josh Naylor is probably the most exciting and entertaining player on a fun Guardians team. His wildly flowing hair and 'rock the baby' celebration have made him a fan favorite in eastern Ohio, but it's his production that should earn him more love and respect from fans in other cities. Last season Naylor slashed .308/.354/.489 with 17 homers, 97 RBI, and 31 doubles. Inexplicably, he was left off the American League all-star team. 

The Twins selected infielder Royce Lewis with the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, and while it took perhaps longer than they were expecting, they're starting to reap the benefits of the pick. Injuries have continuously delayed Lewis' development, but he's always been a difference-making offensive player when healthy. In 58 games for Minnesota in '23, the 24-year-old slashed .309/.372/.548 with 15 home runs, 52 RBI, and seven doubles. That level of production over the course of a full season would obviously put him in elite company, and the Twins are hoping that's exactly what happens in '24 and beyond. 

Towering right-handed slugger Eloy Jimenez was an instant sensation when he debuted for the White Sox back in 2019, crushing 31 home runs in just over 500 at-bats as a rookie. Injuries have since gotten in the way for him far too often, as he's still never played in as many games in a single season as he did during his rookie campaign. That said, when he is on the field Jimenez has as much raw power as anyone in the game, and if he can stay healthy over the course of a full season his numbers will be gaudy. 

Hayward, CA native Tarik Skubal debuted during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and has since quietly developed into the best pitcher on the Detroit Tigers staff. The southpaw was especially good a year ago, going 7-3 and pitching to a stellar 2.80 ERA in 15 starts for a bad Detroit team. He finished with a phenomenal 0.89 WHIP, struck out 102 batters in 80.1 innings, and surrendered only four home runs. Had he not missed the first half of the season recovering from flexor tendon surgery he would have easily made the AL all-star team, and perhaps even forced his way into the Cy Young conversation. 

The Royals finished with the second-worst record in baseball in 2023 — a woeful 56-106 — but if there's one guy on their team I emphatically believe should get more love, it's first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. The Old Dominion alum has only played in 133 games at the sport's highest level over the past two seasons, but he's quietly been pretty consistent. In 558 career at-bats, Pasquantino has slashed .272/.355/.444 with 19 home runs, 52 RBI, and 27 doubles. If he can stay healthy and deliver those kinds of numbers over the course of a full season, fans will have no choice but to pay more attention. 

The Phillies made outfielder Mickey Moniak the first overall pick in the 2016 draft coming out of high school in Encinitas, CA, but unfortunately for both he and the Phillies, it just never worked out for him in Philadelphia. Moniak was ultimately traded to the Angels at the deadline in 2022, and back home in California things have turned around for him in a hurry. In 85 games for L.A. a year ago, Moniak slashed .280/.307/.495 with 14 home runs, 45 RBI, and 21 doubles, and he's now considered a legitimate member of the Angels' long-term core. 

Prior to 2023, Brent Rooker had bounced between the Twins, Padres and Royals organizations, but it's safe to say he's now found a home with the A's. In Oakland, Rooker received his first legitimate big-league opportunity, and he took full advantage, emerging as one of the more productive right-handed hitters in the American League. In 137 games he slashed .246/.329/.488 with 30 home runs, and he even represented the A's in the All-Star Game. 

It seems silly to suggest a player that just led the American League in RBI doesn't get nearly enough love, but ironically enough, the sentiment rings true as it pertains to the Astros' Kyle Tucker. The Tampa, FL native is coming off three straight seasons with more than 29 home runs, has knocked in 92 or more runs in each of the last three years, and has been an all-star twice. But on an Astros team loaded with star power, Tucker strangely seems to get a little lost in the shuffle. 

Cal Raleigh debuted for the Mariners midway through the 2021 season, and in relatively short order he's morphed into a bit of a cult hero in the Pacific Northwest. The switch-hitting catcher has as much power as any backstop in the game and has crushed 57 home runs over the last two seasons. He's never been a high-average hitter, but he's an excellent defender at a premium position, works well with his pitching staff, and if you make a mistake with him at the plate, you'll be rubbing up a new baseball in a hurry. 

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe got his feet wet at the big-league level with the Rays, but a December 2020 trade to the Rangers has proven to be exactly what his career needed. In three seasons with Texas, the big left-handed slugger has slashed .276/.359/.440 with 62 home runs, 230 RBI, and 88 doubles. He's been a Silver Slugger award winner, earned a Gold Glove, and was an instrumental piece of the Rangers' World Series-winning team last October. 

Kodai Senga's posting generated a plethora of major league interest last winter, and the Mets were thrilled to be the ones to land the heralded Japanese right-hander. And after his fantastic rookie campaign, Senga has proven to be worth every penny New York spent. In 29 starts with the Mets, the 30-year-old went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He struck out 202 hitters in 166.1 innings, made the all-star team, and even finished seventh in the NL Cy Young voting. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander both not being in Queens in 2024 was not part of the Mets plan a year ago, but as it stands now Senga is the Mets' unquestioned No. 1 starter. 

Infielder Bryson Stott was the Phillies' first-round pick in the 2019 draft, and in two MLB seasons he's quickly developed into a critical part of Philadelphia's core. Stott played mostly shortstop in 2022, but moved to second base last year to accommodate the addition of Trea Turner, and handled the defensive shift with aplomb. Offensively, he improved tremendously as a sophomore, slashing .280/.329/.419 with 49 extra-base hits and 62 RBI. 

Young righty Josiah Gray was one of the key pieces heading back to Washington in the Nationals' high-profile trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers a few years ago, and last season he really began making good on some of his prospect promise. In 30 starts, the New Rochelle, NY native went 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA, while striking out 143 hitters in 159 innings. He was the Nationals' representative in the Midsummer Classic, and with Washington deep in a rebuild, they have time to continue letting him develop into an upper-echelon starter.  

Veteran Orlando Arcia was not necessarily supposed to be the Braves starting shortstop in 2023, and most experts probably predicted young Vaughn Grissom would claim the job in spring training. Arcia, however, had other ideas, and once he got the job, he never gave the team an opportunity to reconsider. In 139 games for Atlanta, Arcia delivered the best season of his career, slashing .264/.321/.420 with 17 home runs, 65 RBI, and 25 doubles, en route to his first all-star appearance. The Braves obviously have countless big-name stars in their line-up, but Arcia's breakout campaign ensured pitchers got no reprieve even towards the bottom of their offensive attack. 

Versatile Jon Berti has been an incredibly useful player for the Marlins for the last five seasons, and while he's not exactly a household name, he's certainly someone casual baseball fans should be familiar with. Berti has elite speed and actually led the majors in stolen bases in 2022, and defensively he's capable of adequately playing just about every position on the diamond. Offensively he's no slouch either, as in 2023 he slashed .294/.344/.405 with 26 extra-base hits and 33 RBI.  

Speaking of versatility, in each of his first two major league seasons St. Louis' Brendan Donovan has played every position on the diamond aside from catcher, pitcher, and center field. His ability to bounce around the field continuously gives the Cardinals almost unparalleled lineup flexibility, and helps them field their best offensive team at all times. And make no mistake, their best offensive team always includes Donovan. In 221 career games at the sport's highest level he's slashed .284/.365/.422 with 16 home runs, 79 RBI, and 31 doubles. 

For most of 2023 Cubs lefty Justin Steele was considered a dark-horse candidate to win the National League Cy Young award, and while he didn't end up taking home the hardware, he certainly established himself as the unquestioned ace of Chicago's staff. In 30 starts, he went an excellent 16-5, while delivering a strong 3.06 ERA and finishing with a 1.17 WHIP. Steele struck out 176 hitters in 173.1 innings, made his first all-star team, and surrendered an NL-best 0.7 HR/9. Chicago is extremely excited to see how he builds on his breakout season. 

Personally, the idea that David Bednar doesn't receive enough national attention seems preposterous, but when it comes to discussions about elite closers you just don't hear his name mentioned nearly enough. The big righty has converted 58 saves for the Pirates over the last two seasons, and has finished with an ERA of 2.63 or lower in three years running. He's consistently struck out more than a batter/inning, has been named to two NL all-star teams, and owns a stellar lifetime WHIP of 1.11. 

Right-handed swinging William Contreras enjoyed a breakout season with the Braves in 2022 — a season in which he even made the all-star team — but a crowded catching situation in Atlanta led to him being traded to the Brewers last winter. Milwaukee gave the 25-year-old his first chance to be a full-time starting catcher in the majors, and it's safe to say he took advantage of his opportunity. In 141 games, Contreras slashed .289/.367/.457 with 17 home runs, 78 RBI, and 38 doubles. He earned his first career Silver Slugger award and piled up 247 total bases, and heading into 2024 he's entrenched as a critical part of the Brewers lineup. 

Sewickley, PA native TJ Friedl played somewhat sparingly for the Reds in '21 and '22, but took his game to an entirely different level a season ago. In 2023 Friedl took the starting center field job in Cincinnati and ran with it, slashing .279/.352/.467 with 18 home runs, 66 RBI, 22 doubles, eight triples, and 27 stolen bases. For most of the summer the Reds emerged as one of the game's most fun-to-watch teams, and Friedl was certainly front and center in that. Still only 28 years old, he's now firmly part of a very talented and exciting core, and the future of baseball looks very bright in Cincinnati. 

The Dodgers are perpetually loaded with star power, and after signing Shohei Ohtani that is certainly not going to change anytime soon. But playing with so many insanely talented teammates can sometimes cause even all-star caliber players to be overlooked, something I think happens a little with catcher Will Smith. The veteran is coming off three straight seasons with more than 19 homers and 76 RBI, and has brought a level of stability to the catcher position that had been lacking in L.A. While his production would make him the premier offensive player on some teams, in Los Angeles he's just a complementary piece, which is further proof of just how dangerous this Dodgers team is. 

Right-handed swinging Wilmer Flores was a good player for the Mets and Diamondbacks, but it's in San Francisco where he's become a borderline star. In four seasons with the Giants, Flores has slashed .257/.331/.454 with 72 home runs, 216 RBI, and 77 doubles. A shortstop early in his career, Flores plays first base, second base, and third base in the Bay Area, while consistently providing the Giants with a lethal right-handed bat that feasts on southpaws. 

When the Padres signed Ha-Seong Kim ahead of the 2021 season I'm not sure they initially envisioned him becoming much more than a productive versatile infielder. Fast forward a couple of years and the 28-year-old is now a mainstay at shortstop in San Diego. Last season Kim slashed .260/.351/.398 with 17 home runs, 60 RBI, 23 doubles, and an eye-opening 38 stolen bases. Not all that long ago this would have seemed outrageous, but Kim's emergence has now transitioned Fernando Tatis Jr. into a full-time outfielder. 

Nolan Jones was the Indians second-round pick in the 2016 draft and spent several years as the club's top ranked prospect. Unfortunately, he was never really able to breakthrough at the sport's highest level in Cleveland, but getting traded to Colorado in November 2022 may have been the best thing that could've happened for him. In his first season with the Rockies organization, Jones was able to play in 106 major league games, and he left quite an impression. In 367 at-bats, he slashed .297/.389/.542 with 20 homers, 62 RBI, and 22 doubles, and he'll get a chance to build on that in 2024. 

The Diamondbacks just enjoyed an unlikely run to the National League pennant, and several of their lesser-known players understandably received increased exposure in October. One of those guys is center fielder Alek Thomas, an elite defender at a premium position, whose offense has also been steadily coming on. A year ago, the 23-year-old slashed .230/.273/.374 with 31 extra-base hits and 39 RBI. The Diamondbacks believe he will continue to improve with more experience.