MLB: Underrated Players That Deserve More Credit
By Jason Reed
Kole Calhoun
Playing alongside the best player of our generation has only hurt Kole Calhoun‘s credibility. If Realmuto is standing in the huge shadow of Buster Posey, Calhoun is standing in the shadow of a monster in Mike Trout. Calhoun has utilized not only his electric fielding but his great bat in order to become one of the best outfielders in baseball. Nobody recognizes that, however, as everybody is clamoring over his outfield mate Mike Trout.
Calhoun has posted a combined 7.7 fWAR over the last two seasons, a mark that is good enough to be the 12th best among MLB outfielders. In that time Calhoun has slugged 44 home runs, 169 runs scored and 158 runs batted in. Calhoun has batted .263 over that span, and while these numbers don’t necessarily jump out as elite, they do solidify Calhoun’s case as one of baseball’s best. Despite this, the only award Calhoun has received was a lone Gold Glove in 2015.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Next: Who's On First for Yankees?
In terms of fWAR, Calhoun has beat out popular players such as Curtis Granderson, Andrew McCutchen and Ian Desmond. While there are several more formidable names that Calhoun beats out, none of them have close to as many games as Calhoun has played. Guys like Christian Yelich, Starling Marte and Ryan Braun are all below Calhoun. This shows that Calhoun is a promising outfielder and has the consistency to continue being one.