{"id":1258,"date":"2016-10-24T16:57:34","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T20:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=1258"},"modified":"2016-10-24T17:22:19","modified_gmt":"2016-10-24T21:22:19","slug":"2016-all-underrated-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2016\/10\/24\/2016-all-underrated-team\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 All-Underrated Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are some\u00a0position players in Major League Baseball<\/strong>\u00a0who are not considered \u201chousehold names\u201d, but have proven they deserve respect after their\u00a02016 campaigns. These players comprise the 2016 All-Underrated Team.<\/p>\n

2016 All-Underrated Team<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Catcher<\/strong><\/h2>\n

J.T. Realmuto<\/a>, Miami Marlins<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Realmuto quietly finished third\u00a0in hits and average among all qualifying catchers, with only Yadier Molina<\/a><\/strong> and Wilson Ramos<\/a><\/strong> finishing ahead of him. The Marlins should be ecstatic about the future of their 25-year-old catcher.<\/p>\n

First Base<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mike Napoli<\/a>,\u00a0Cleveland Indians<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you start for a World Series<\/strong> team, you must be doing something right. There is no way the Indians are the American League<\/strong>\u00a0champions without Napoli. Napoli produced a 2016 season in which he reached career-highs in home runs (34) and RBI (101). In addition, the clubhouse presence Napoli brought to Cleveland this year cannot be understated. He quickly emerged as the team’s leader. The underdog Napoli may have settled for a one-year deal with Cleveland this past offseason, but look for Napoli to get a nice payday this winter.<\/p>\n

Second Base<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cesar Hernandez<\/a>,\u00a0Philadelphia Phillies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the most unknown speedsters in the game, Hernandez racked up 161 hits this season with Philadelphia. The 26-year-old finished the season as the Phillies team leader in batting average (.294) and OBP (.371). Hernandez is only going to improve and should be the second baseman for many years to come in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Shortstop<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jonathan Villar<\/a>,\u00a0Milwaukee Brewers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Villar was phenomenal for the Brewers, as he led the team in hits (168) and OBP (.369). Villar also led all of baseball in stolen bases, with a whopping 62. Villar should be mentioned among\u00a0Francisco Lindor<\/a><\/strong>, Corey Seager<\/a><\/strong>, Xander Bogaerts<\/a><\/strong>, and Carlos Correa<\/a><\/strong> as the best crop of young shortstops.<\/p>\n

Third baseman<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jose Ramirez<\/a>,\u00a0Cleveland Indians<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The most underrated player in all of baseball, Ramirez had a sensational 2016 season. Ramirez finished top-five in many hitting categories for third baseman: hits (176), doubles (led all third baseman with 46), stolen bases (22), and batting average (led all third baseman at .312). Ramirez brings a ton of energy to the ballpark day-in and day-out. Ramirez will become a \u201chousehold name\u201d very, very soon.<\/p>\n

Outfielders<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Charlie Blackmon<\/a>,\u00a0Colorado Rockies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Blackmon had yet another stellar season in Colorado, as he led all qualifying outfielders\u00a0with a .324 batting average. Blackmon also finished second among that group\u00a0with 187 hits. The six-year vet is consistently one of best outfielders in the game, but he is also consistently one of the most underrated players in the league.<\/p>\n

Ender Inciarte<\/a>,\u00a0Atlanta Braves<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It seems as if Inciarte has found a home in Atlanta. The 25-year-old emerged as one of the better all around outfielders in the game. Inciarte managed to hit .291 with 152 hits for the Braves. Look for Inciarte to join the likes of Dansby Swanson<\/a><\/strong> as part of the young Atlanta core to take over the new SunTrust Park<\/strong> in 2017.<\/p>\n

Stephen Piscotty<\/a>,\u00a0St. Louis Cardinals<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Piscotty is an outfielder who possesses both speed and strength. The youngster has Cardinals fans drooling over his potential after slugging 22 homers this season. Piscotty fits in exactly with the Cardinals culture. Expect many playoff games in his\u00a0future.<\/p>\n

Should the one game play-in Wild Card be expanded to a three game series?<\/a> in LastWordOnSports’s Hangs<\/a> on LockerDome<\/a><\/span>