MLB Preview: The 10 Most Underrated Hitters in Baseball

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While any Major League Baseball fan knows the likes of the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols, the Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer or the Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton, it is often the unsung bat in the lineup that makes the biggest difference at the biggest moment.

When the newly acquired Boston Red Sox Carl Crawford or Adrian Gonzalez are getting pitched around, it will be up to the guys further down the lineup to get the job done.

It's finally time to give some of these role players a share of the spotlight. So without further ado, here are the 10 most underrated bats in baseball.

Placido Polanco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies

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Placido Polanco has been setting the table for 13 seasons now. During that time he has amassed a career batting average of .303, an OBP of .347, and scored 902 runs.

In 2007, while playing second base for the Detroit Tigers, Polanco won a Silver Slugger for being the best hitting second baseman.

Polanco is a great two-hole hitter, as he can do a variety of things with the bat, and is versatile enough to bat in multiple spots in the order.  

Shin Soo-Choo, OF, Cleveland Indians

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Shin Soo-Choo has been in the majors since 2005, but played sparingly until the 2008 season. Since then, Shin Soo-Choo has emerged as one of the top hitters for the Cleveland Indians.

In his first-two full seasons he has averaged 21 HR, 88 RBI, and has hit .300.

One way in which Soo-Choo can improve is by cutting down on strikeouts. In 2009 he struck out 151 times and followed that up with 118 punch-outs in 2010. A poor lineup could be to blame for Soo-Choo's frequent swings and misses.

Omar Infante, INF, Florida Marlins

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Omar Infante has been used as a utility player for most of his career because of his versatility on the field. Infante can play multiple infield positions as well as the outfield.

During this past season with the Atlanta Braves, he was given the opportunity to be an everyday player down the stretch, due to a rash of team injuries.

Infante truly relished the opportunity as he competed for the batting title while hitting .321. Infante has a knack for making contact with the ball— striking out only 62 times last year while never giving up an at bat.

Infante's veteran presence should prove to be very valuable for the young Florida Marlins lineup.  

Nick Markakis, OF, Baltimore Orioles

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While being overshadowed by other American League East teams and players, the Baltimore Orioles' Nick Markakis has quietly been putting together a nice MLB career in his first 5 seasons.

Markakis has compiled two 100+ RBI seasons, a lifetime average of .298, and a .368 career OBP. 

If Markakis can improve his power numbers (he averages just under 18 HR a year), he can truly be a force to be reckoned with in the AL. 

Andre Ethier, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

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The Los Angeles Dodgers will only go as far as Andre Ethier will take them. 

In 2009, Ethier hit 31 HR, drove in 106 RBI and finished sixth in National League MVP voting while leading the Dodgers to the NL West crown.

In 2010, despite making his first all-star game appearance, Ethier hit eight fewer HR and drove in 24 less runs as the Dodgers missed the postseason.

With Ethier's importance in the Dodgers' lineup, the type of season he has may dictate the outcome of the NL West.

Martin Prado, 2B/OF, Atlanta Braves

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After Martin Prado's untimely injury late last season, the Atlanta Braves struggled to score runs in the postseason and were knocked out by the eventual World Champion San Francisco Giants.

During a brilliant 2010 campaign Prado was selected to his first all-star team, finished in the top 10 in National League MVP voting, and hit .307 while picking up the slack for an injured Chipper Jones.

Prado's most valuable asset is his flexibility. Not only can he hit in multiple spots in the lineup, he has accepted a move to the outfield to make room for newly acquired second baseman Dan Uggla. 

Billy Butler, 1B, Kansas City Royals

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As he was coming up through the system, many were hailing Billy Butler as baseball's next big thing. While he may not have lived up to those expectations, he has quietly had a nice career thus far.

In five major league seasons Butler has a career average of .299 and a .359 OBP. In 2009 he amassed career highs in HR (21) and RBI (93).

Butler may not have hit his ceiling yet, so it would behoove baseball fans to keep an eye on this kid.

Nick Swisher, OF, New York Yankees

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While it's certainly understandable to see how Nick Swisher's name can get lost in the New York Yankees' star-studded lineup, Nick Swisher has definitely carried his own weight.

Swisher has six straight 20 HR seasons, a career slugging percentage of .460, and appeared in his first All-Star game last year. 

However, Swisher can get better by cutting down on his strikeouts. He has struck out at least 110 times over the last six seasons. By making more contact he can also improve upon his .252 career average.

Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs

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Although he has only played 125 major league games, this talented kid should start receiving some well deserved accolades. 

In his rookie campaign, Castro boasted a .300 average while racking in 31 doubles, good enough for a fifth place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Buster Posey and Jason Heyward.

The sky's the limit for this kid, especially considering the premium placed on good hitting shortstops in the MLB.

Mark Reynolds, 3B, Baltimore Orioles

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Mark Reynolds may very well be the most underrated power hitter in baseball right now.

In four seasons, Reynolds has already hit 121 HR, including a career high in 2009 with 44 HR. His home run totals help to boost his career slugging percentage of .483.

However, Reynolds is feast or famine. One glaring weakness in Reynolds game—strikeouts. Reynolds has struck out over 200 times in each of the last three seasons.

If Reynolds can learn a little plate discipline he could one day be a top of the line hitter.