Figuring out North Dakota’s best MLB players is not exactly a difficult one. It’s one of the easiest things one could hope to accomplish. Having the refined search engines of Baseball Reference at one’s disposal helps. But it also helps that only 20 men from the state have graced a big league diamond. Only one of those would fall into the “household name.” Even then, it might just be for one franchise. But we’ll discuss that in a moment. Four other stories are to be told in the swaths of canvas below. These are the top five MLB players in North Dakota’s history by order of ascending WAR.
North Dakota’s Best MLB Players
Lynn Nelson
6.4 WAR
Lynn Nelson pitched for three separate franchises over the decade that was the 1930s. Unfortunately, within that span, he missed three seasons. His rookie year, 1930, was a bit of a disappointment. He went 3-2 with a 5.09 ERA and a 96 ERA+ while playing for the Chicago Cubs. Manager Joe McCarthy was upset and got rid of Nelson. The Cubs brought him back in 1933, and he spent the next two seasons there, going a combined 5-6 in 26 games. He was out of the league for the 1935 and ’36 campaigns but returned with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937. In three seasons with Connie Mack’s club, he went 24-33 with a 5.37 ERA. After a disappointing six game stint with the Detroit Tigers in 1940, he never pitched in the big leagues again.
Matt Strahm
6.8 WAR
Matt Strahm has come into his own as one of North Dakota’s best MLB players. Indeed, his career has been full of ups and downs. However, his recent stretch with the Philadelphia Phillies has been well noted. He began his big league tenure with the Kansas City Royals, going 4-7 with a 3.81 ERA in their bullpen. In 2017, he was traded to the San Diego Padres, where he spent four years. Ironically enough, he produced the same ERA, though his ERA+ numbers took a tumble. After spending 2022 with the Boston Red Sox, he wound up in Philadelphia. He’s found something of a home in their bullpen and was an essential part of a fairly deep playoff run in 2023.
Rick Helling
20.2 WAR
The WAR numbers take a massive leap with Rick Helling. This is interesting, as his numbers aren’t all that impressive at first glance. His status as one of North Dakota’s best MLB players lasted five years, from 1998 to 2002. 1998 was his best career season, as he won 20 games and nearly cracked the top 20 in MVP voting. He never posted dazzling ERA or ERA+ numbers. However, when he needed to be effective, he was. He even had a career renaissance in 2005, posting a 2.39 ERA in 15 games for the Milwaukee Brewers. Overall, he spent 12 years in the big leagues. He finished with 93 wins, 1,058 strikeouts, and a 101 ERA+ in over 300 games played.
Travis Hafner
24.8 WAR
The Cleveland Indians had one of the more underrated offenses of the mid-2000s. One of those big bats is North Dakota’s best MLB player. From 2004 to 2007, Travis Hafner was among the best hitters in the game. In those four seasons, he clobbered 127 homers while hitting .296. He had over 1,100 total bases and 580 hits as well. His best year was 2006 when he hit .308 with 42 home runs, 117 RBIs, 31 doubles, and a league-best .659 slugging mark. He finished eighth in MVP voting, his second straight year in the top 10. Unfortunately, injuries hampered the rest of his career. Despite this, he posted double-digit homers from 2009 through his final year in 2013. Though never an All-Star, a healthy Hafner was one of the game’s best bats and the best to ever come from North Dakota.
Darin Erstad
32.3 WAR
Our final entry should make any Los Angeles Angels fan crack a smile. Darin Erstad was a mainstay in the Angels outfield for 11 seasons. His best year came in 2000 when he hit .355 while belting 25 homers and driving 100 runs. He led the league in hits while garnering a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. His eighth-place MVP finish was the only time he finished in the top ten. That said, his 1,697 hits, 316 doubles, 179 stolen bases, and .282 average are all tops in North Dakota history. He also boasts World Championship status, as he played for the 2002 Angels team that won it all. Over a successful 14-year career, Erstad proved why he’s the best out of North Dakota’s best MLB players.
Main Photo Credits: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
