HIDDEN MVPS: 10 UNDER-THE-RADAR STARS
The names of Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton have been tossed around as MVP candidates for weeks now, and deservedly so. They rank among the top contenders with the likes of Jose Ramirez, Mike Trout and Francisco Lindor in the American League and Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Joey Votto in the National League.
However, there are several other worthy players who are not getting nearly as much love from the media. They might not finish among the leading vote-getters in the balloting, but they merit recognition as outstanding contributors to their teams, most of them contenders. Here’s our attempt at acknowledging them:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Not much goes underhyped in New York, but Gregorius’ phenomenal year has been overshadowed by the breakout star who is Judge. A terrific defender all along, Gregorius delivered a career-high 20 homers and 70 RBI in 2016, then improved on those numbers this season despite missing the first three weeks with a shoulder injury.
Gregorius broke Derek Jeter’s single-season home run record for a Yankees shortstop when he hit his 25th last Wednesday, to go along with 85 RBI and a .805 onbase plus slugging percentage. He has also been known to hand out free tickets to the subway and CN Tower as part of what’s known as DIDIsDEEDs. Not a bad replacement for the captain.
Marwin Gonzalez, Houston Astros:
In his sixth season, Gonzalez has evolved into the latest version of Ben Zobrist, the utility player who becomes indispensable. Gonzalez has started more than 10 games at each of the infield positions, plus 34 more in left field. All the while, he has taken off offensively, setting career highs with 23 homers and 85 RBI while ranking fourth on the majors’ highest scoring team with a .902 OPS.
“Whenever I have a question on what I should do,” manager A.J. Hinch says, “the answer is usually, ‘Marwin can do it.’ ”
Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers:
Typically a light-hitting shortstop with doubles capability, Andrus boosted his OPS by more than 130 points from 2015 to ’16, but nobody anticipated his power surge this season. After going eight years without reaching double figures in home runs, Andrus has hit 20. He has also set career highs in doubles (42), hits (183), runs (99) and RBI (86).
Andrus has been the one constant in a Rangers season marred by Adrian Beltre’s injuries and the subpar offensive performances of Rougned Odor, Mike Napoli and Jonathan Lucroy.
Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins: A year after setting a Minnesota record for losses with 103, the Twins have scraped their way into prime position for a playoff spot thanks to players like Dozier. The second baseman leads the club with 32 homers and 87 RBI while ranking second in steals with 16, helping the Twins open a five-game lead for the second wild card.
Left fielder Eddie Rosario, who has hit 16 of his 26 homers in the second half, deserves mention as well.
Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles:
The Orioles have fallen out of the race in the last three weeks, taking some of the luster off Schoop’s accomplishments. He has already been named the Orioles MVP by area media members, and his 32 homers and 105 RBI are club records for a second baseman.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
When the Dodgers surged to a stunning 91-36 record, Jansen performed admirably, converting 35 of 36 save chances. When they faltered, losing 16 of 17, he remained steady, both on the field and in the clubhouse, where his influence has grown.
It's not only Jansen’s 40 saves that make him valuable, but the certainty of the game’s finality when he comes in, whether it’s the eighth inning or the ninth. His presence is a key reason the Dodgers can limit the innings, and exposure, of starting pitchers not named Clayton Kershaw. Jansen has converted 11 saves of more than one inning and has struck out 105 in 66 innings while giving up seven walks. That’s pure domination.
Travis Shaw, Milwaukee Brewers:
For the Brewers to enter the final week of the season two games out of a playoff spot is a minor miracle. For Shaw to be heading their offense might not qualify as such, but it certainly ranks as a feat of shrewd dealmaking.
Shaw, acquired in an offseason trade with the Red Sox, has reached career highs in most offensive categories, most notably home runs (31), RBI (99) and OPS
(.870). His two-run homer in the
10th inning against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday might have saved the season.
Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals:
The veteran receiver has been in the middle of the action during the Cardinals’ late push for a postseason spot, driving in 22 runs in September as St. Louis has gone 14-9 to move within 21⁄ games of a wild-card spot as the week began. At 35, Molina continues to play stellar defense behind the plate while taking scarce days off. His 133 games started lead all major league catchers. In whatever time off he has, Molina and his wife are helping raise funds for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.
Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals:
After three consecutive seasons curtailed by injuries, Zimmerman seemed a candidate for the has-been category. Then he found his old stroke — an even better one, actually, with more loft — and propelled the Nationals in the early going. Now in his 13th season at 32, Zimmerman has set a career mark with 34 homers and figures to finish with his best OPS ever (it’s currently at .919).
In a loaded lineup that also includes Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy, Zimmerman might get overlooked a bit, but pitchers know better than to forget about him.
Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins:
With the Marlins out of contention and Stanton garnering so much attention, the best season of Ozuna’s career has become a footnote. It deserves better than that. The All- Star left fielder, who is sharing NL Player of the Week honors with Stanton, ranks in the league’s top five in home runs (36) and RBI (118) while batting .309. In most other seasons that kind of production would earn him major plaudits. It might not this year, so he’s getting them now.