One player from every MLB team who deserves more love

Righty Luke Weaver began his professional career as a highly touted starting pitching prospect after being selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the ’14 draft coming out of Florida State. Things never really took off for him in St. Louis, however, and the Cardinals ultimately shipped him to Arizona as part of the package that brought back first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Weaver then spent parts of four seasons with the Diamondbacks, with whom he pitched to a 4.72 ERA and missed a lot of time on the injured list. Unsuccessful stints with the Royals, Reds, and Mariners followed, and Weaver seemed destined to be a middling journeyman for the rest of his career. Well. Not so fast. The 30-year-old landed in the Bronx last September, and this year, the Yankees moved him full-time to the bullpen, which has seemingly changed his trajectory. In 30 outings thus far in 2024, Weaver has pitched to a stellar 2.76 ERA with an 0.83 WHIP. Opponents are managing just a .175 batting average against him and he’s punched out 48 hitters in 45.2 frames. He’s somewhat surprisingly become a critical piece of New York’s relief corps, and is a huge reason the Yankees have had so much success this season. 

Young David Hamilton debuted briefly for the Red Sox last year, but here in 2024, he unexpectedly took on a leading role for the club. Trevor Story’s injury opened up a starting position in the Red Sox middle infield, and it’s Hamilton who has seized the opportunity and run with it. In 54 games thus far, the former Texas Longhorn is slashing .282/.333/.449 with 15 extra-base hits, 15 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. He’s brought stability to an infield that needed it, and there’s no denying that he’s been a linchpin to Boston’s success.

The theme of most conversations centered around the Baltimore Orioles these days is undoubtedly the abundance of young difference makers the O’s have. And sure, Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and Colton Cowser are all phenomenal, we know that. And Jackson Holliday is undoubtedly going to join that group again soon. But when you’re handing out accolades to players on this Baltimore roster, I urge you not to forget about their slugging first baseman, Ryan Mountcastle. Now in his 5th season, the Winter Springs, FL native has been a steady middle-of-the-order type bat for this team for a long time, and 2024 has been no different. As we close in on the midway point of 2024, Mountcastle is slashing .276/.320/.466 with 11 homers, 40 RBI, and 21 doubles. He doesn’t get nearly the amount of attention his teammates do, but opposing pitchers have to respect him, and fans that follow the Orioles every day know how important he is to the O’s success. 

It’s been an uncharacteristically challenging season for the Rays who have spent much of 2024 under .500 and buried behind the Orioles, Yankees, and Red Sox in the AL East. But Tampa Bay’s struggles are certainly not the fault of right-handed reliever Jason Adam, who, for three years running, has been one of baseball’s most dominant late-inning arms. The 32-year-old Adam spent the first four seasons of his career bouncing between three different teams, and while it never clicked for him with the Royals, Cubs, or Blue Jays, things changed dramatically when he got to Tampa. At the time I’m writing this, Adam has appeared in 158 games in a Rays’ uniform, and pitched to a tremendous 2.20 ERA with an 0.90 WHIP. He’s struck out well over a batter/inning, registered 45 holds, converted 23 saves, and is without question a name more people should be talking about on a national level. 

The Blue Jays are currently in last place in the AL East, and while there’s a lot of time left and things can change quickly in this sport, contending for a postseason spot in 2024 feels farfetched. Toronto just hasn’t gotten enough from its star players this season, but that doesn’t include righty Chris Bassitt, who has been one of baseball’s most consistent starting pitchers for the last half dozen years. The 35-year-old is a dependable workhorse who always makes all of his starts, and his 3.48 lifetime ERA in more than 1,000 big league innings is a testament to his prolonged effectiveness. The Toledo, OH native is not necessarily an ace, but every staff would be thrilled to have him, and I’ve long felt he was one of baseball’s most underrated arms. 

Northwestern State product David Fry played in 58 games for the Guardians in ’23 and was a decent role player, but this season, he’s very quickly emerged into much more than that. Fry has become someone Cleveland simply cannot take out of the lineup, slashing .310/.422/.523 with eight homers, 32 RBI, and 13 doubles in his first 174 at-bats. And he’s not just making an impact with the bat. Fry has played five different defensive positions for the Guardians in 2024—including catcher–as well as starting a plethora of games at DH. His versatility has opened up so many different options for Cleveland skipper Stephen Vogt, and he’s quite frankly been one of the primary reasons the Guardians currently own the best record in the American League. 

One of the feel-good stories of 2024 has been the re-emergence of Jack Flaherty, who returned from a pair of disappointing injury-plagued seasons to reemerge as one of the game’s more effective starting pitchers. In 15 starts for Detroit, the righty has delivered a 3.24 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP while striking out an eye-opening 115 hitters in only 89 innings and holding the opposition to a .226 batting average. Flaherty bet on himself this winter when he took a one-year deal to join the Tigers, and he’s positioned himself nicely to not only land a long-term contract next winter but also to be one of the most sought-after starting pitchers at the trade deadline next month. 

Seth Lugo spent the first seven seasons of his career in New York pitching predominantly out of the Mets’ bullpen while not so subtly expressing his desire to get a chance in the team’s rotation. The Mets gave the right-hander sporadic opportunities to start but never seriously considered him as a long-term rotation option, something I’m sure they regret now. Lugo left Queens in 2023 to join the Padres who promised him the opportunity he’d always coveted. In San Diego the Shreveport, LA native pitched to a 3.57 ERA and proved he could take the ball every 5th day and have the durability and effectiveness to a be an important component in a Major League team’s starting five. And now it’s the Royals who are reaping all the benefits. Kansas City gambled a bit on Lugo this winter by giving him a three-year contract worth $45 million—a deal that now looks like a bargain. In the first half of 2024 Lugo has pitched like a legitimate ace, turning in a 2.17 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP, and he’s arguably the biggest reason the Royals have surprised people with their success. 

Right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson is still only 23 years old, which at first seems surprising since he’s already been a part of two high-profile trades for starting pitchers. Originally drafted by the Mets, Woods Richardson went to Toronto as part of the package that netted the Mets Marcus Stroman back in 2019. Two years later in another trade deadline deal the Jays sent him to Minnesota in exchange for righty Jose Berrios. It’s taken him time to get his footing in the Twins organization, but the ’24 campaign is serving as Woods Richardson’s coming out party. In 13 starts so far, the Sugar Land, TX native has pitched to a 3.41 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .228 batting average. Minnesota is currently holding an American League wild-card spot, and Woods Richardson is someone they’re counting on to continue being a difference-maker as we get later into the season. 

Not much has gone right for the White Sox in 2024 as Chicago is currently buried with the worst record in baseball. But that’s not to say the season has been a total lost cause. Left-hander Garrett Crochet, whom the White Sox picked in the first round in 2020, made the first 72 of his big league appearances in relief, but this season Chicago made the decision to make him a full-time starting pitcher. And wow, has that paid dividends? In his first 18 starts. Crochet is working to a 3.02 ERA with an 0.93 WHIP. Opponents are managing just a .198 batting average against him and he’s punched out an astonishing 141 men in 101.1 innings. Crochet is now firmly on the map as arguably the best young starter in baseball, and because of Chicago’s situation, will now be the most coveted arm on the trade market in late July. 

Vibes around the Angels this season are exactly how you’d imagine they’d be with Shohei Ohtani now starring for the Dodgers, Mike Trout again on the injured list, and the Halos sitting well under .500. But if there’s one reason for Angels fans to continue watching their team night in and night out as the summer carries on, it’s their young catcher Logan O’Hoppe. Originally drafted by the Phillies in 2018, Los Angeles acquired O’Hoppe in a deadline deal that sent outfielder Brandon Marsh to Philly in 2022, and this season he’s making good on all of the prospect hype that accompanied him at the time of the trade. In 71 games, O’Hoppe has slashed .275/.326/.478 with 12 homers, 38 RBI, and 12 doubles. Behind the plate he’s gunned down 17 runners attempting to steal, and it certainly appears the Angels have identified their long term backstop. 

The Astros got off to a stunningly terrible start in 2024 and have needed a fantastic June to bring themselves back into contention. Many of Houston’s longtime stalwarts have not lived up to the back of their baseball cards, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this team it’s to never count them out. The Astros’ rotation has been more than a little unsettled during the first half of the season thanks to Justin Verlander, Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, Cristian Javier, and Lance McCullers Jr. all being on the injured list, which is why the guy I think deserves so more love on this team is southpaw Framber Valdez. Similarly to Chris Bassitt, Valdez is not necessarily an ace, but he’s consistently been a durable and dependable arm on some very good Astros teams for a long time. In his first 13 starts this season, the veteran has pitched to a 3.68 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP, while averaging over six innings per outing. 

The Marlins made outfielder J.J. Bleday the 4th overall pick in the 2019 draft coming out of Vanderbilt, and at the time he was viewed as one of the most polished college hitters to enter the draft in a long time. Even with an inconsistent start to his professional career in the Miami system, I still found it a little stunning the Marlins traded him to Oakland during spring training in 2023 in exchange for left-handed reliever A.J. Puk. Fast forward 16 months and I think that’s a deal they’d like to have back. Playing every day for the A’s this season. Bleday is slashing .242/.324/.441 with 11 homers, 29 RBI, and 22 doubles. The Athletics obviously have a plethora of question marks heading into the future, but it would appear they’ve found a building block in Bleday, who has not yet reached his ceiling. 

The Mariners have led the AL West for most of the first half, and a big reason why is the standout dominance of their closer, Andres Munoz. The veteran was already well established as one of the better late-inning relievers in baseball, but this season, he’s on the brink of entering elite territory. In 33 appearances to date, the 25-year-old has pitched to a 1.64 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP, while striking out 43 hitters in 33 innings and holding opposing batters to just a .179 average. He’s converted 13 saves, logged six holds, and it would be stunning if he isn’t selected to participate in his first all-star game in a couple of weeks. 

The Texas Rangers have a whole bunch of household names on their roster, and their infield especially is loaded with star power. I’m sure everyone reading this is well aware of what Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Nathaniel Lowe can do, but how many people outside of Arlington are talking about third baseman Josh H. Smith? In a season that’s been a little trying to date for the defending champions, Smith is quietly enjoying the best campaign of his young career and is certainly doing his part to keep Texas in contention. In 80 games so far in ’24, the LSU product has slashed .290/.384/.451 with seven homers, 33 RBI, and 18 doubles. Every one of those numbers is already a new career high for the 26-year-old, and it will be fun to see what his stat line looks like at year’s end. 

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind of a first half for right-handed swinging Mark Vientos, but as we near the all-star break he’s firmly entrenched as one of the most important bats in a suddenly deep and dynamic Mets line-up. Back in spring training the 24-year-old was slated to be New York’s regular DH–until the club brought in J.D. Martinez late in camp–and getting sent back to the Triple-A level where he has nothing left to prove had to be frustrating. But after Brett Baty failed to take firm hold of the third base job in Queens during the season’s first month and a half or so, Vientos was brought back up and given an opportunity to start at the hot corner. In many ways, that decision may well have saved the Mets season. In just 38 games, Vientos has slashed .295/.356/.576 with 10 homers, 25 RBI, and seven doubles. His power is undeniable and he’s a threat every time he steps in the box, and defensively he’s worked exceptionally hard to shed his reputation as a liability. The Mets are heading into the second part of their season firmly in the NL Wild Card race, and Vientos is undoubtedly one of the biggest reasons why. 

The Braves have frustratingly suffered decimating injuries to some of their most important players in 2024, which is the primary reason they’ve underachieved—at least to their lofty expectations–during the first half. Atlanta is still well positioned in the first wild card position in the National League, but losing both Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. to season-ending injuries has made it difficult to compete seriously with Philadelphia in the East. That’s not to say there haven’t been exceptional bright spots for this team, however. Atlanta brought in righty Reynaldo Lopez this winter and offered him the chance to go back to being a starting pitcher like he had been early in his career. It’s safe to say they struck gold with that gamble. In his first 14 outings, Lopez has pitched to a stellar 1.70 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .215 batting average and punching out 81 hitters in 79.1 innings. He’s standout performance has helped mitigate the absence of Strider at least a little bit, and it’s fair to wonder where the Braves would be without him.  

Not much has gone wrong for the high-flying Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, and you can certainly add right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman to the list of players who have been exceptional contributors for the club this season. After failing as a starter in both Colorado and Cincinnati early in his career, the 31-year-old Hoffman found a home in Philly’s bullpen last season, and this year has blossomed into one of the game’s premier set-up men. In 36 appearances thus far, he’s worked to a 1.27 ERA with an 0.93 WHIP. Opponents have managed just a .191 batting average against him, he’s claimed 44 strikeout victims in 35.1 frames, and he’s also notched 10 holds and six saves. 

Texas State alum Kyle Finnegan seems to be perpetually underappreciated. Heading into 2024 the righty had already delivered four outstanding seasons pitching out of the Washington bullpen, but what he’s been done this year has just made it impossible for outsiders to ignore. In his first 34 outings, Finnegan has delivered a 2.16 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. He’s struck out well over a hitter/inning, has a dominant .182 batting average against, and his 22 saves rank 2nd in the National League. Washington has outperformed their preseason expectations during the first half and still sits in Wild Card contention, but if they fall out of the race in July, Finnegan will be one of the most sought-after relievers on the trade market. 

Speaking of relievers who will be coveted later this month, let’s talk about Miami’s Tanner Scott. The veteran southpaw has had a little bit of an up and down career but he’s turning in his best season at the best possible time. Scott will be a free agent at year’s end, and what he’s done during the first half of 2024 has positioned him to be the most desirable late-inning reliever available on the trade market right now and the open market in a few months. In his first 35 appearances, the 29-year-old has pitched to a 1.50 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP. Opponents are hitting a measly .149 against him, he’s struck out 38 hitters in 36 innings, and he’s nailed down a dozen saves for a bad Marlins team. Get ready to hear his name an awful lot over these next few weeks. 

Conversations about the premier starting pitchers in our sport very rarely seem to include Sonny Gray, which is just a flat-out oversight. Aside from a disastrous tenure in the Bronx, Gray has been one of the most consistent and reliable starters in baseball for the better part of a decade, and it’s well beyond time for him to get his proper due. In St. Louis this season, the veteran righty is currently sporting a 2.98 ERA with an 0.99 WHIP. Opponents are hitting an even .200 against him, he’s striking out a career-best 11.19 hitters/nine innings, and he’s played a leading role in the Cardinal’s first-half success. 

The Brewers have been one of the National League’s best teams from the jump in 2024, and have proven themselves to be far and above the class of the NL Central once again. Milwaukee does not have a standout offensive leader that’s lighting the world on fire, but what they do have is a consistent and relentless attack that is getting contributions from everyone on a seemingly nightly basis. And right in the middle of everything they do is their energetic young catcher, William Contreras. To date in ’24, the Venezuela native is slashing .291/.352/.436 with nine homers, 50 RBI, and 19 doubles. Veterans like Christian Yelich, Willy Adames and Rhys Hoskins may be talked about more on a national level, but fans in Wisconsin know Contreras is just as important to this team’s success as anyone on the roster. 

The Cubs are in the midst of a difficult stretch that has dropped them five games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League with a ton of teams in front of them. It’s safe to say their season is on life support, and they’ll need a huge next three weeks or so to convince the front office not to sell. But don’t blame righty Jameson Taillon for their current predicament. The 32-year-old veteran has been easily the team’s best pitcher in 2024, and should Chicago ultimately decide to trade off assets he’ll become a legitimate option for contenders. In 13 starts so far, Taillon has pitched to a 3.03 ERA in 74.1 innings, and while he’s never been a huge strikeout arm, a battle-tested starting pitcher that averages nearly six innings/outing will always be heavily sought after in July.

The Reds are currently in a similar position to that of the Cubs. They haven’t played exceptionally well during the first half, but thanks to a largely underachieving group of teams on the senior circuit, mathematically they are within striking distance of a playoff berth. Contending seriously down the stretch does seem farfetched, and I think the most likely scenario is one that watches Cincinnati continue to make moves for the future. But in the here and now, I think a guy on their team that needs substantially more love is young righty Hunter Greene. Drafted 2nd overall by the Reds coming out of high school back in 2017, Greene was rushed to the big leagues probably before he was ready, and endured some growing pains in both ’22 and ’23. But here in 2024 he’s really coming into his own. In his first 17 starts, the 24-year-old has pitched to a 3.70 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. He’s struck out 109 hitters in 97.1 frames, held opposing batters to just a .209 average, and he’s inching closer to becoming the shutdown ace the Reds thought he’d develop into when they picked him so high. 

Pittsburgh is yet another team in the middle of the convoluted mess that is the NL Wild Card race, and thanks to the emergence of rookie starter Paul Skenes they’ve become one of the more fun teams in baseball this summer. But it’s one of their longest-tenured players that I think deserves more love. Switch-hitter Bryan Reynolds debuted for the Bucs back in 2019, and has quietly been one of the game’s most consistent two-way outfielders ever since. This season he’s been especially good and is on pace to deliver new career highs in most offensive categories. Through his first 83 contests, Reynolds is slashing .275/.341/.466 with 13 homers, 46 RBI, and 19 doubles. The Pirates will have their work cut out for them to make the playoffs here in 2024 and will need a huge 2nd half to do so, and if a magical run like that is about to transpire, there’s no doubt Reynolds will need to be front and center. 

The Dodgers are obviously loaded with star power from top to bottom. Mookie Betts is hurt right now, but for most of the first half the Dodgers were able to feature three MVP winners in the top three spots in their line-up with him, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman. Good luck to the opposition’s starting pitcher. The presence of those guys in this everyday line-up, though, is simply the only explanation I have for why catcher Will Smith is not often mentioned as an elite offensive player. During the first three months of the 2024 campaign, the veteran has slashed .269/.339/.466 with 11 homers, 50 RBI, and 17 doubles. He’s the 4th option on his own team but would be the number one run producer in most other line-ups. 

San Francisco righty Logan Webb reminds me a lot of the earlier mentioned Sonny Gray. Both pitchers are far too often overlooked when conversations about the best starters in the game are being conducted, something that is beyond head scratching when you look at the back of their baseball cards. In Webb’s case, he’s been nothing short of magnificent for four years running, and has somehow not even been selected to a single all-star game. This season, the 27-year-old has made 18 starts already and pitched to a 3.12 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP. In addition to his excellence on the mound, there’s something to be said for just how often he’s been able to take the hill in general. Webb hasn’t missed a start due to injury in more than three years, and his durability and consistency are not things the Giants take for granted. 

Switch-hitter Jurickson Profar is currently playing in his 11th Major League season, and it’s safe to say he’s never played at a higher level. On a Padres team that has several big-name veterans struggling to live up to the back of their baseball cards, Profar has been the one to pick up the slack to help keep San Diego firmly in the mix for an NL Wild Card spot. Through his first 86 games, the veteran is slashing .314/.408/.476 with 11 home runs, 55 RBI, and 15 doubles. He’s on pace to set new career highs in almost every offensive category, and he’s emphatically deserving of his first trip to the Midsummer Classic later this month. 

There’s not much to be excited about with the Colorado Rockies right now, as the club is currently well on its way to its sixth consecutive losing season. At 28-55 the Rockies own the worst record in the National League, and they’re in desperate need of an influx of young talent. Essentially the only building block for the future this team currently has is young shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who is quietly blossoming into one of the better players in the game at one of the most important positions on the field. Midway through the ’24 campaign, Tovar is slashing .284/.313/.472 with a dozen homers, 37 RBI, and 24 doubles. He’s on track to set new career highs in every offensive category, and the objective for the Rockies at this year’s trade deadline will be to find him some help. 

The defending NL champion Diamondbacks are in a similar position to the one they were in at this time last year. They’re sitting on the outside of the playoff picture looking in at the moment, and know they’ll need a big second half to earn an opportunity to make another October run. Confidence has to be high since they know they’ve been here before, but every season is different, and Arizona will need to come together and play much better down the stretch than they have to date. One of the guys that I’m looking at to lead the charge is Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has seemingly always hit and never gotten enough credit. This year the 30-year-old is slashing .267/.302/.421 with 11 homers and 48 RBI, and Arizona will hope for more of the same over the next few months.