Ranking the five least likely 2020 MLB postseason heroes

(5) Travis d’Arnaud, Atlanta Braves

To put it simply, Travis d’Arnaud has found a home with the Atlanta Braves. d’Arnaud spent the first part of his career with the New York Mets. His early career was riddled with injuries keeping the talented catcher from finding real consistency in the big leagues.

The 31-year-old reached the low point of his career after being released in New York in August of 2019. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed d’Arnaud in free agency before trading him to the Tampa Bay Rays just five days later.

Finally, during this past offseason, d’Arnaud signed with the Braves. Scouts have always admired his bat, however, nobody expected his performance at the plate in 2020.

d’Arnaud hit .321 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs during the shortened-season, earning himself a spot to hit cleanup in a stacked Braves lineup.

His successes continued into the postseason. d’Arnaud led the Braves lineup to the NLCS, hitting .286 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Most of this damage came in the NLDS matchup with the Marlins, where d’Arnaud launched both home runs, knocked in seven RBIs, and hit a stifling .600 in the Braves’ three-game sweep.

(4) Framber Valdez, Houston Astros

The Houston Astros went through its share of ups and downs throughout the 2020 campaign. Much of this came as fallout from the club’s sign-stealing scandal. Nonetheless, the Astros earned a spot in the postseason despite a sub-.500 record.

Yet, the blows continued. Zack Greinke struggled down the stretch and ace Justin Verlander’s season ended early because of Tommy John surgery. Houston’s lineup still left opposing pitchers fearful, yet the Astros had some serious question marks about its pitching rotation entering the postseason.

Enter Framber Valdez, a 26-year-old lefty that owns a career ERA above four. Without missing a beat, Valdez stepped into the ace role of the Astros starting pitching staff.

Valdez went 3-1 in three starts and four appearances with a 1.88 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. The left-hander pitched seven innings in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics, allowing just two runs. He helped carry Houston to a Game 7 in the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays before Tampa Bay ultimately punched its ticket to the World Series.

(3) Julio Urías, Los Angeles Dodgers

Julio Urías reserves an interesting spot on this list. The 24-year-old lefty has been a very reliable starting pitching option for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past two seasons. He’s young and talented and surely will continue to succeed in the big leagues.

Yet, the Dodgers are a team stacked with star-power. From the bats of Mookie Betts to Cody Bellinger, to the arms of Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen. Not many expected a 24-year-old with just five years of MLB experience to be the best pitcher on the Dodgers during the 2020 MLB postseason.

Urías has been phenomenal. In five games and two starts, Urías is 4-0 with a team-leading 1.31 ERA. The lefty has also struck out 25 batters in just over 20 innings of work.

The highlight from his postseason efforts came in an NLCS Game 7 clincher against the Atlanta Braves. Urías threw the final three innings of this Dodgers’ 4-3 win, giving up no runs and no hits. In Game 4 of the World Series, a game that the Dodgers did eventually lose, Urías struck out nine batters in 4.2 innings of work.

In the end, Urias was on the mound when it counted. He closed out Game Six for the Dodgers, securing their first title since 1988 and becoming the first Mexican born pitcher to record a save in the clinching game of the World Series.

(2) Brett Phillips, Tampa Bay Rays

On Saturday, Brett Phillips offered the most memorable moment of the 2020 MLB Postseason. Phillips, in his first-ever World Series at-bat, delivered a wild walk-off winner.

Phillips was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays at the end of August, simply to add defensive depth. His story perfectly symbolizes the definition of an unlikely postseason hero. A role player is given an opportunity to shine and truly delivers when it matters most.

Phillips wasn’t on the Rays’ ALCS roster. He hadn’t had an at-bat since October 7th and has never recorded a single postseason hit.

But, in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 4 of the World Series, with two on and two out, down one run, and potentially falling to a massive 3-1 series deficit to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Phillips delivered.

It was no ordinary walk-off either. Down to his final strike, Phillips delivered a single to right-center. It required some questionable defensive blunders by Los Angeles, but both runs scored and the Rays walked it off.

And despite Phillips representing the perfect embodiment of an unlikely postseason hero, this number one spot on this list has already been taken.

(1) Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays

Randy Arozarena has been the best storyline of the 2020 MLB Postseason. He’s been the best player in this postseason, the best player on the Tampa Bay Rays, the player generating the most headlines, and the player setting the most records.

Yet, before 2020, before the postseason, not many knew who Arozarena was. The 25-year-old rookie outfielder has now been dubbed the “Cuban Mookie Betts.” A speedy fielder with some serious pop at the plate, Arozarena was little known, even in baseball circles.

In two sporadic years with the Rays and St. Louis Cardinals, he owns less than 100 at-bats in the MLB. He’s recorded only eight home runs and 24 hits throughout his career.

But, enter the 2020 MLB Postseason and Arozarena has taken over. He’s carried the Rays to the World Series and down just three games to two, with a serious shot at the title. And after displaying one of the hottest postseason streaks in MLB history, Arozarena has dismantled the record book.

He now owns the most home runs in a single postseason with nine. He added another record in Game 5 of the World Series for the most hits in a single postseason. In Game 3, he broke Derek Jeter’s record for most hits in a single postseason by a rookie.

Throughout the postseason, Aroarenza is hitting .370 in 73 at-bats. The outfielder has recorded 27 hits, nine home runs, 13 RBIs, 18 runs scored, and a .808 slugging percentage. All in his rookie campaign.