The MLB is filled with incredible talent, and every year that talent is constantly replenished. With big talent comes big performances, big egos, and big narratives. Oftentimes, these narratives can enhance the feelings we have towards certain players, both for the good and the bad. A handful of these players come to mind right away, and here is an opportunity to break down whether these players are not nearly as good as the public eye might believe them to be, or if they are far better than we allow ourselves to think.
Bryce Harper
This one you definitely should’ve seen coming. Harper has gone from being the Washington Nationals’ golden child, to then being viewed as an Odell Beckham-type diva, and eventually winning MVP and making a World Series appearance for the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper was bullied on the internet for signing a 13-year, $330 million contract following the 2018 MLB season after many believed a player who had a .249 batting average wasn’t worth half the amount. While it is true Harper is extremely inconsistent year to year, there’s no doubt he is multi-faceted. While only batting .249, Harper led the MLB in walks and put up 100 RBIs with 34 home runs. Since then, Harper has led the league in walks, doubles, slugging percentage, and OPS at least once during the four seasons since his new contract was signed. In addition, based on typical Harper production, Harper had struggled mightily in the playoffs of years past. During the 2022 MLB playoffs, Harper put the team on his back and hit a whopping .349 batting average over four rounds of playoff baseball. Despite some previous hate and recent love thrown his way, it’s clear that Harper is a winner and is willing to do anything necessary to help his team win.
Verdict: Overrated
Gerrit Cole
Cole is viewed as one of the best pitchers in the entire league, and specifically a strikeout pitcher, after leading the league in that category in 2022 and 2019. Cole has been magnificent anywhere he’s played, albeit the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, and the New York Yankees. Drama ensues any player who signs with the Yankees, but Cole was at the center of attention when the MLB started cracking down on “sticky stuff.” In 2021, the MLB started randomly checking pitchers’ hands and equipment for potentially illegal substances. Cole, coming off a 2.84 ERA season, immediately began to struggle. While still playing at a high level, Cole’s ERA jumped from a previous 2.88, 2.50, and 2.84 all the way up to a 3.23 ERA in 2021 and 3.50 in 2022. While maintaining his All-Star status in 2022, Cole was very noticeably disgruntled throughout the season and even led the league with the most home runs allowed with 33. Going into his age 32 season in 2023 (which is relatively young for a pitcher), Cole will need to show he doesn’t need any enhancements to be the best of the best.
Verdict: Overrated
JD Martinez
Baseball fans know Martinez as a smooth swinging hunk who always seems to be a staple of consistency. Boston Red Sox fans know Martinez as the guy the front office chose to extend over superstar Mookie Betts. After hitting over .300 for six consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2019, Martinez has established himself as a reliable producer. Although Martinez looks the part in the batting average department, he is a liability on the defensive side of the ball. Going into his age 35 season, Martinez signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hoping to bolster up their super team. Over recent years, Martinez has seen a dip in production. While still playing well, Martinez is no longer a star at the plate. We have seen other players over the years focus on excelling in one aspect of their play once age begins to impact their performance. Whether it be focusing on being a defensive producer, or becoming a power slug like Nelson Cruz, older players tend to acknowledge these deficiencies. Martinez, on the other hand, has fallen into mediocrity, and is holding on to his name value by a thread.
Verdict: Overrated
Jose Altuve
After being ostracized for years for the famous “Houston Asterisks” scandal, Altuve finally EARNED his flowers by winning the 2022 World Series against Bryce Harper’s Philadelphia Phillies. Altuve was previously a top MVP candidate for five seasons between 2014 and 2018. Following the discovery of the Houston Astros cheating, Altuve saw a sharp decline in offensive output. We may never know if it was due to the lack of cheating, a mental block from his constant ridicule, or maybe his age played a role as well. Whatever the case may be, Altuve finally showed up in 2022, posting his first .300 batting average season since 2018. Unlike JD Martinez, Altuve has always been a staple on the defensive side of the ball and has continued to be productive year in and year out. Altuve finished fifth in MVP voting in 2022 and won his first Silver Slugger award since 2018. After finally proving that he does not need cheating to succeed, Altuve has proven to many that he is simply good at baseball.
Verdict: Overrated
Nestor Cortes
A talent on the diamond, a distraction on the mound. Cortes has made quite a name for himself that has made fans both smile and grimace in disgust. Cortes has perfected Johnny Cueto’s windup antics, throwing hitters off balance and making both the batters and himself look silly. After lifting his foot off the mound, Cortes is often seen standing still for seconds, turning in awkward motions, and even doing a double windup. His unorthodox and nonchalant way of delivering the pitch has led Cortes to a 2.90 ERA in 2021 followed by a 2.44 ERA and All-Star appearance in 2022. The proof is in the pudding, and Cortes has shown that he does not care if he needs to be creative to be effective. He has seemingly put his pride aside and acknowledges that based on his level of talent and competition, he needs to use these antics to succeed at the highest level. It may infuriate the older fans, but Cortes has proven his ability is more than meets the eye.
Verdict: Overrated
Joc Pederson
Pederson made his name while on the Dodgers as a power hitter who could send a missile into the stands at any given moment. He was an All-Star as a rookie in 2015 and was again voted as an All-Star in 2022. Pederson is a fan favorite, that is without question. But his All-Star production is another story. Pederson has over 100 more strikeouts than he does hits over his career, and had 100 strikeouts to 104 hits in 2022. He scraped by with 23 home runs and was slightly above average across the board. A .274 batting average along with 57 runs and a .335 on base percentage, Pederson was a good player. Nothing more and nothing less. Every MLB fan loves Joc Pederson and what he stands for, but next year let’s try to keep the All-Star team full of just that, All-Star.
Verdict: Overrated
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