Most underappreciated player on each MLB team going into 2017

The biggest, absolutely indisputable difference between who the Diamondbacks were a year ago and the contender they are now is Pollock. His absence due to a complex wrist injury in 2016 removed a seven WAR player from the team, which subsequently led to a 10-game decline from 2015 for Arizona. He is the team’s top outfield defender and a table-setting bat atop the lineup who is just as capable of stealing a base as hitting a home run.

The steady vet is an incredibly important part of the Braves' everyday offering. A solid defender and presence within the lineup, he has been good for at least one win share in each of his first two years in Atlanta. Two seasons ago, he led the team in hits and has carried a very respectable .359 on-base percentage since joining the team in 2015.

Long gone are the days when Hardy was a 20-homer threat, but he has remained an invaluable defensive presence for the team. Along with Manny Machado, he is part of the best defensive half-infield in the game. Over the last five years, Hardy has produced the least errors of an everyday shortstop in the American League. He is the type of traditional keystone producer in the field whose importance gets lost in the shuffle in today’s game, but he is still highly important in the mix a successful team needs.

It may not be entirely fair to say that a former MVP is a true "unsung hero," but many of things that Pedroia does best are the between-the-lines elements that don’t directly show up on a box score. Pedroia is a tenacious competitor and defender who is an invaluable, proven veteran in a young clubhouse that is capable of becoming the next era of Red Sox championship teams. Pedroia is both capable of producing the tangible (200 hits last year) and the intangible with equal ease.

While the headlines mention Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo or Joe Maddon more often than him, perhaps no addition to the Chicago clubhouse has meant more than Zobrist over the past two years. His versatility allowed him to stay in the everyday postseason lineup last year as a left fielder, while Javy Baez was able to bring his dynamic bat and glove to second base, the same position where Zobrist was an All-Star starter last year. However, he didn’t skip a beat, ultimately becoming World Series MVP and winning his second championship in as many years.

Jones has been a constant in the Chicago bullpen over the past handful of years, paving the path to the ninth inning for closer David Robertson. Over the past two years, Jones has averaged more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings, while handling nearly 40 holds. He has played a vital role in holding together the sometimes all-too-infrequent victories for the Sox and is an easy choice as heir apparent for the ninth inning if Robertson is moved at any point in the near future.

Yes, everybody knows how dangerous of a threat he is on the base paths, as his reputation as a base thief makes him one of the most feared players in the game. However, what goes under-reported is the fact that he parlays that speed into effectively covering the most real estate in the game in center field as well. His transition from minor league shortstop to MLB center fielder has been remarkable, as he twice led the National League in outfield fielding percentage and assists in the last four years.

Ramirez may be the ultimate "glue guy" on the roster of any contender in the game today. He has spent considerable time starting at third and second base, as well as in the outfield, helping the Tribe weather critical injuries to Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis. During his breakout 2016 season, Ramirez led the Indians in doubles (46), batting average (.312) and offensive WAR (4.0). He has carried this production into 2017 as well, proving to be no fluke.

He may be destined to become one of the hardest-to-recall batting champions of all time, but what LeMahieu represents in Colorado is hard to ignore. He is a top-shelf defensive presence who has won both a Gold Glove and been an All-Star already. LeMahieu is a singles-producing machine who sets the table for the eye-popping numbers of Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez.

Justin Verlander remains the most notable arm in the Detroit rotation, but Fulmer is the most important. The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year provided much needed depth behind the club’s longtime ace, winning 11 games in his debut season and good for nearly six wins above replacement in his young career.

Harris initially found his way to Houston as a waiver wire claim whom the Diamondbacks had given up on. In his three years as an Astro, the late-blooming righty has become one of the best (and most versatile) relievers in the game. He made the All-Star Game last year in the rare position as a non-closing reliever and has held opponents to a .206 average against while compiling 45 holds and 15 saves for the Astros.

Cain is the quintessential all-in performer as a center fielder, making a balanced, substantial impact across the board. He is the active leader in range factor as a center fielder, meaning there is no outfielder who factors into more plays than him. He has also grown as an offensive factor as well, which saw him finish as a top three MVP finalist just two years ago.

 Consistency is the name of the game for Calhoun, who has become an all-important stablizing element of the Angels’ lineup. He is capable of doing whatever is needed at the time, whether it be hitting for power (30+ doubles in 2014 and '16, 20+ home runs in 2015) or making his regular impact defensively. Calhoun has remained in the top five of outfield assists in baseball since 2014.

Since joining the Dodgers in 2014, the fire-bearded Turner has turned into one of the most valuable core players on any team in the game. He has carried a .370 on-base percentage in L.A. and finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting last summer. This is why retaining his services was at the top of the Dodgers' list of business this past winter, as he was given $64 million contract to stay put on the hot corner in Chavez Ravine.

It is almost worth a double take when one realizes that the next time Yelich's name appears on an All-Star Game roster will be the first. The 25-year-old has long been one of the elite corner outfield defenders in the game and rapidly expanded his impact at the plate as well. Coming off a Silver Slugger season, he is on the fast track to be among the best all-around outfielders in the game and the top left fielder in baseball.

Since arriving in Milwaukee late in 2015 after being plucked off the waiver wire from the Tigers, Perez has seen action from nearly every vantage point on the diamond. He's played every position with the exception of catcher, becoming a massively important tool for manager Craig Counsell, as he has navigated the ever-changing dynamics of a retooling roster. A year ago, he stole 34 bases in 41 chances and been providing extra-base hits for the Brewers.

While not an ace in the same fashion as, say, Clayton Kershaw or Max Scherzer, Santana is an all-important element of stability for the Twins. Despite bringing a sub-.500 record into the season over two years as a Twin, Santana has worked to a 3.24 ERA as a member of the club, along with a 1.18 WHIP. What does this mean? It means that he more often than not gives the team a chance to win, which is what the oft-struggling Twins need more than anything else.

While Jeurys Familia has run up over 90 saves the past two years, Reed has been the most important part of the Mets’ bullpen since arriving two years ago. Since donning the New YOrk cap, Reed has become one of the best relievers in the game, bridging the gap to the closer.

14.3. That’s the number of strikeouts per nine innings that Betances has averaged throughout his career. While he briefly inherited the mantle of closer for the Yanks last year, he has been best cast as the dominant setup man who is paving the way for Aroldis Chapman yet again. He is a prototype for the "fireman" role, which is growing across the game, and the Yankees are ahead of the curve in being able to deploy him.

With his ability to wear many hats, Rosales is a perfect fit for an Athletics team that often sees changing elements to its roster. Already in 2017, he has hit in four different lineup spots, while carrying a glove to four different positions as well. With Marcus Semien’s wrist injury keeping him out of action long term, having the easily deployable Rosales on board was a huge save for the A's.

The rise of the multi-talented Phillies center fielder has flown under the radar to an alarming extent. In 2016, he became perhaps the most anonymous member of the National League’s 2016 All-Star team and led the Phils in runs scored, hits, stolen bases and games played. The talented 25-year-old is a key cog in the Philadelphia rebuilding effort that is picking up the pace.

After spending years as one of the top left-handed specialists in the game, Watson has been reassigned to man the Pirates' ninth inning. His presence made it much easier for the Pirates to move on from free agent-to-be Mark Melancon at the trade deadline last season, as since they dealt their All-Star closer, Watson has responded as the closer.

Solarte fits in with equal ease at either second or third base, which has worked well for the Padres. They have bounced him around nearly the entire diamond the last few years. Solarte continues to round into a better ballplayer annually and has become a regular target of competitors that are looking to poach talent from the fringe Padres club. Thus far, the Pads have not given way to offers, as he provides such great value to their team.

While Buster Posey is unquestionably the heart of the San Fran roster, Crawford provides the arteries that run through it. The strength of the Giants' recent run has been their ability to provide top-tier defense, and Crawford at the center of it. Over the past three years, he has saved a whopping 41 runs above average at the most important defensive position on the field, so enough said.

While he is not even the most famous member of his family currently on a Major League Baseball roster, Seager is certainly the most accomplished. 2016 marked the fifth straight year that he rose his home run total, topping at 30 on the year. He also drove in a personal best 99 runs, while continuing to be one of the underrated infield defenders in the game.

Lynn has not missed a beat in his return from a season lost to Tommy John surgery. The big righty is still as much of a hard-nosed competitor as ever. That moxie was missed in the St. Louis rotation last year and is need more than it ever has been. With Adam Wainwright clearly on the downside of his career and Carlos Martinez learning what it means to lead a rotation, getting back one of the steadiest performers (sixth best NL win percentage since 2011) is vital for the Cards.

Kiermaier is more than just one of the most exciting players in baseball; he is one of the most electrifying athletes, period. A highlight machine disguised as a center fielder in Rays' garb, Kiermaier is a two-time Gold Glove winner who has led the AL in defensive WAR among outfielders in each of the last three years despite missing over 50 games last year with a wrist injury.

While Andrus is no longer the elite, All-Star player he was a few years ago, he still plays a huge part in Arlington. His bat came back to life last year, while he remained as active as ever on the bases, swiping 20 bases for the seventh straight year. The longest-tenured Ranger has settled in to becoming one of the team's most dependable players.

One of the most unique players in the game, Stroman checks in at 5-8 but packs a much bigger punch on the mound. His motto of "HDMH" (Height Don't Measure Heart) says all you need to know about the energetic young righty. The 26-year-old is emerging as one of the better young pitchers in the game and is still riding the high of guiding Team USA to its first World Baseball Classic title with a dominant showing in the championship game. 

Turner’s star turn is coming soon, as he has been one of the most irresistible player in the game since his initial call-up in 2015. He’s the motor atop the Washington attack and has put on a suitable encore to his Rookie of the Year runner-up campaign, as he has been good for over four wins above replacement in under 100 career games the last two years.