Top Ten Underrated Baseball Players for 2010

In the game of baseball, the majority of attention goes to the superstars because of the size of the contracts. Here are ten underrated baseball players whose impact on the field can be the difference in winning the game.

Josh Willingham - Washington Nationals

Since Willingham entered major league baseball in 2006, he has been a steady produced at the plate. Not only has Willingham averaged at least 20 home runs in three of the four seasons, he has provided enough extra base power to make sure the opposing pitcher think twice before pitching to him. While Willingham may never be a team's lead run producer, he can provide enough support to make a noticeable difference.

Mike Napoli - Los Angeles Angels

If you are looking for a catcher who makes the most of his playing time, Napoli would be the right one for you. This slugger has managed to crank out at least 16 home runs in three of the past four seasons. While he may not the most defensive catcher in the game, his bat makes up for the deficiencies.

Jason Kubel - Minnesota Twins

Over the last four seasons, Kubel has quietly developed into a solid hitter for the Twins' organization. Since 2006, Kubel has hit 64 home runs while maintaining a .270 batting average or higher. As Kubel continues to grow as a hitter, more fans outside of Minnesota will begin to see his value to the heart of the order.

Asdrubal Cabrera - Cleveland Indians

When you begin talking about the Indians, the first thing everything recalls is the yearly fire sales by the team's owners over the past few seasons. One of those players who makes these decisions easier is Cabrera who has becomes the spark plug for the team's offense. Cabrera had a break through season in 2009 when he hit over .300 and produced 81 runs. If Cabrera continues to develop, he will become the focal point to help jump start the offense.

Jayson Werth - Philadelphia Phillies

Since the Phillies' offense is loaded from top to bottom, the majority of the attention centers on the stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. As a result, the performance of Werth often goes unnoticed by the casual baseball fan. Since earning more at bats with the Phillies, Werth has improved across the board and has the ability to hit 30 home runs and swipe 20 stolen bases.

John Danks - Chicago White Sox

This left hander has quietly gone about his business with the White Sox and has developed into a reliable pitcher. Over the last two years, Danks has been able to give his team 200 innings with a .500 record and an earned run average below 3.75. The only thing keeping Danks from breaking into superstar status is his lack of run support.

Brandon Inge - Detroit Tigers

Too many times in baseball, fans tend to focus on the offensive aspect and completely ignore a player's defensive impact. While Inge's .235 career batting average may not bring a smile to your face, his Gold Glove performance at third base has eliminated plenty of run scoring chances. Inge has shown that you can have success in the game with your glove and not just your bat.

Matt Garza - Tampa Bay Rays

When the Minnesota Twins decided to give up Garza's pitching career, the Rays organization knew they had the chance to pick up number two starter in the making. While Garza's record has been hovering around .500 thanks to an inconsistent bullpen, his less than 4.00 earned run average and 8 strikeouts per 9 innings has led the team. Garza will continue to develop and show us in 2010 why he is one of the more underrated players in major league baseball.

Shin-Soo Choo - Cleveland Indians

After spending a few years trying to secure a starting spot in the Indians outfield, fans had a chance to see what he could offer in 2009 when he hit over .300 with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Choo is a five category player who has become the leading run producer in the Indians lineup.

Ian Kinsler - Texas Rangers

When fans begin to talk about the top second baseman in the game, many names like Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley come to mind. For some reason, Kinsler has become an after thought even though he has a career .281 batting average while averaging 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases every season.

Resources

Yahoo Baseball