MLB’s overrated and underrated players of the 2022 season

Like all sports, there are some MLB players at an unbelievable playing level and some at a not-so-much level. However, there are always players that are underrated and overrated. There are some positions, like catcher and second base, that are just not too deep, so when it comes to looking at players at those positions, it can be hard to determine which players are underrated and overrated.

Let’s have a look at the current overrated and underrated players across the MLB landscape

Catcher

Overrated: Sean Murphy, Athletics

Sean Murphy is still a solid catcher for the Athletics, but when it comes to his offense, he struggles a lot. Hitting .254 with a .333 OBP, Murphy strikes out a lot, leading all starting catchers with 102 strikeouts. However, the two-time Gold Glove catcher is known for his glove, not his bat, having a career-low .991 fielding percentage is still something to be proud of, but his lackluster offense is a constant disappointment.

Underrated: Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays

Alejandro Kirk has blossomed this season. Hitting .294, best amongst all catchers, is not known for the pop in his bat, as he only as 13 homers, but more for his OBP as it is .379 so far this season. Both his batting average and OBP are the highest amongst the starting catchers in baseball this season. If Kirk wasn’t having the year he has been having, it is hard to imagine the Blue Jays being where they are now.

First Base

Overrated: Matt Olson, Braves

Olson is still a very good player, with 27 homers and 87 RBI, but his .247 batting average is a major disappointment for someone on an eight-year, $168 million contract extension. His defense is solid, but the Braves traded and extended him for his bat. Olson has the fifth-most strikeouts amongst first basemen and ranks 12th in OBP with .332. He is still a very good player, although he is talked about as if he is better than he really is.

Underrated: Luis Arraez, Twins

Similar to Kirk, Arraez is not known for the pop in his bat. With just eight homers, Arraez is one of the purest contact hitters in the game, hitting an amazing .316. Earlier this week, White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease went 8.2 innings without allowing a hit, just to give up a hit to Arraez with two outs in the ninth inning. With Arraez constantly getting on base, he has greatly helped the Twins surge up to be tied for first with the Guardians.

Second Base

Overrated: Marcus Semien, Rangers

Semien dominated in 2021, earning him a massive seven-year, $175 million contract. However, this season, he has been struggling. As mentioned earlier, it could be tough for certain position to determine who is overrated or underrated solely because of the lack of talent and depth for certain positions throughout the league, and second base is one of them. But when it comes to Semien, someone making that much money should not be doing this poorly, hitting just .243 with 21 homers and 67 RBI. The Rangers and their fans expected more from who was supposed to be their new star player. The fans in Texas just have to hope that 2023 is a different outcome for Semien.

Underrated: Jeff McNeil, Mets

When you think of the 2022 Mets, the first players to come to mind are likely Pete Alonso, Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and/or Francisco Lindor. But in reality, Jeff McNeil has been lighting it up at the plate this year, hitting an amazing. 320 batting average with a .370 OBP. McNeil may not hit the homers that the fans may want, with just seven on the season, but he has 50 RBI. McNeil is a major reason why the Mets are dominating this season, and even though it may be hard to put him in the same category as some of the other Mets stars, he most definitely deserves to be in that conversation.

Third Base

Overrated: Matt Chapman, Blue Jays

Even when Chapman was with Oakland, he was overrated. Yes, he has an elite glove with three Gold Gloves and two Platinum Gloves, he just can’t hit the ball. Hitting .238, just below his career average of .242, he has a horrible strikeout/walk ratio of 51 walks to 137 strikeouts.

Underrated: Manny Machado, Padres

Manny Machado has not been getting the love he deserves this season. Batting .300 with 26 homers and 84 RBI, the multi-Gold Glove winner just isn’t being talked about. This season, when you think for third basemen, you’ll think of players like Austin Riley, Nolan Arenado, Jose Ramirez, and Rafael Devers, but Machado has been better all around that all of these players. Even though Machado was still an All-Star, he is still having an underappreciated season. Machado is a major reason why the Padres are fighting for a playoff spot.

Shortstop

Overrated: Bobby Witt Jr, Royals

Despite Witt just being a rookie, and having a lot of potential, he is still very overrated based on his rookie season. Hitting only .250, Witt’s BB/K ratio is one of the worst in all of baseball. With 24 walks to 114 strikeouts, Witt is clearly struggling reading the pitches. Witt strongly reminds me of Javier Baez, someone with solid speed, elite defense, high RBI numbers, but swings at nearly everything. Tigers fans aren’t pleased with Baez now, and you must question how much longer with Royals fans be okay with this happening to Witt.

Underrated: Jose Iglesias, Rockies

Iglesias is never talked about, and maybe it is because he is with the Rockies, but he is hitting .300 in 114 games. He has never been someone to hit homers, as he just has three on the season. His defense is also elite this year, as he only has eight errors at short, the fifth-lowest amongst all shortstops.

Left Field

Overrated: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

Fans love home runs, especially those moonshot homers. Kyle Schwarber is a player that will give you those moonshots. However, he is just hitting .215 this year. Despite his 36 homers and 78 RBI, he has 66 walks and 172 strikeouts, which is horrible. Schwarber showed this when he was in Chicago, Washington, and once again in Philadelphia. He is just a pure power hitting who strikes out way too much.

Underrated: Alex Verdugo, Red Sox

Being on the Red Sox this season is tough. The team is an overall disappointment, but Verdugo is once again proving that he is a pure contact hitter, hitting .283 this season. Verdugo also has solid defense. Between Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and Alex Verdugo, this young core is the focus for the Red Sox future.

Center Field

Overrated: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

This one will upset some people, but that is okay. Rodriguez is still a very good player, but right now, he isn’t as good as some people may think. Yes, he has a solid batting average of .270, 67 RBI with 23 homers, has 24 steals, and has solid defense, he strikes out way too much with 135 Ks to 34 walks. Rodriguez should not be the AL Rookie of the Year, as it should be either Adley Rutschman or Jeremy Pena who have been up a little longer and more consistent. Rodriguez is still very good, I am just not there yet to start calling him the next great Mariner.

Underrated: Cedric Mullins, Orioles

In 2021, Mullins had an electrifying season, and as he has gone down a bit from last year, he is still having a solid all-around season. Hitting .263 with a .326 OBP, Mullins has 51 RBI with 30 doubles and 29 steals. Mullins is also a solid defender in center for Baltimore. Baltimore has shocked everyone this season, and Mullins has been a major part of that.

Right Field

Overrated: Juan Soto, Padres

We all know what Juan Soto is capable of. However this season, he has been a disappointment, hitting only .248 with 24 homers and 52 RBI. There is one amazing thing that Soto has accomplished this year, something that nearly every starting player cannot say, and that is having way more walks compared to strikeouts. With 117 walks to 76 strikeouts this season, opposing pitchers still see Soto as a major threat, and as he should be.

Underrated: Andrew Vaughn, White Sox

Overall, the White Sox have been a disappointment, but Andrew Vaughn has been killing it on the South Side. Hitting .286 with 63 RBI, Vaughn is doing much better than his rookie season last year. The young White Sox right fielder should be talked about for years to come, not just in Chicago, but all of baseball.

Starting Pitcher

Overrated: Gerrit Cole, Yankees

Gerrit Cole is having a down year, which isn’t saying much, as a down year for him is still pretty good. However, like the entire Yankees team, Cole has struggled more recently. This season, Cole has a 3.28 ERA and  a fantastic 1.01 WHIP. Cole definitely isn’t a top 10 pitcher this season, but he seems to be talked about like he still is.

Underrated: Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks

Gallen is having a lights out year. He currently has a 2.42 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP. Gallen also just extended his scoreless streak to 41.1 innings, catching up on Orel Hershiser’s 59 consecutive scoreless innings streak. Unfortunately for Gallen, he is on a losing team, and wouldn’t be talked about a lot.

Note: All stats entering games of September 7, 2022.