Biggest Under-the-Radar Player for Each MLB Team

Each season, at least one under-the-radar player breaks out and becomes a force in the major leagues—or at least a well-known player.

These are the up-and-coming prospects and the undervalued veterans whose place on a team isn't a huge deal to opponents or opposing fans to start the season. But by the time the season ends, these players have each left their mark and made their name known.

While it doesn't happen on every team, every club certainly has a candidate.

Let's take a look at each team's biggest under-the-radar player in 2012.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Ryan Roberts
Third Base 

Ryan Roberts burst onto the scene in Arizona in 2011.

He wasn't even expected to make the roster and ended up being the team's starting third baseman. He only hit .249 but did smash 19 home runs with 65 RBI. He did strike out 98 times, compared to his 66 walks, but he was a big part of the Diamondbacks' playoff run.

In 2012, he'll be expected to do more of the same.

Atlanta Braves

Tyler Pastornicky
Shortstop

Julio Teheran is getting most of the headlines for being the next young star in Atlanta and while that will likely become true, he isn't under-the-radar anymore.

But Tyler Pastornicky is.

Pastornicky will enter the season as the the Braves' starting shortstop. He has an good defensive skills at the shortstop position and is a quality hitter. In 2011, he split time between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting a combined .314 with 65 runs, 45 RBI and 27 stolen bases.

Baltimore Orioles

Jim Johnson
Relief Pitcher 

Jim Johnson was one of the best relievers for the Orioles last year, sometimes even better than closer Kevin Gregg.

He had a great ground ball rate of 61.7 percent and 5.4 percent walk rate which become even more valuable when playing at Camden Yards, Fenway Park, and Yankee Stadium.

Should Gregg falter, Johnson can step in as closer. He could possibly even fill in as a spot starter for Baltimore in 2012.

Boston Red Sox

Ryan Sweeney
Right Field

The Boston Red Sox must have known that Ryan Kalish would be undergoing yet another shoulder surgery when they asked for Ryan Sweeney to be packaged with closer Andrew Bailey from the Oakland Athletics. 

Sweeney may not be as well-known to Red Sox fans as the now-departed Josh Reddick and currently injured Ryan Kalish are, but he could wind up being the Sox starting right fielder.

He is a very good defensive outfielder and can hit for contact. He will never be a power hitter, but that won't be needed in Boston's potent offensive attack. The only downside with Sweeney is the fact that he is a left-handed hitter, like the rest of the Boston batting order.

Chicago Cubs

Brett Jackson
Center Field

Brett Jackson had a very disappointing campaign in Double-A, hitting only .256. But when he got promoted to Triple-A, he tore it up by hitting .297 with a .939 OPS.

While he is the Cubs top prospect, the fact that he most likely won't make the opening day roster is keeping him under the radar. Once he makes his debut in 2012, he will have an immediate impact. 

Chicago White Sox

Chris Sale
Starting Pitcher

In 2011, Chris Sale appeared in 58 games for the Chicago White Sox, none of them as a starting pitcher. In those 58 games, he recorded eight saves in 10 opportunities and had and ERA of 2.79.

But in 2012, the real challenge will begin. Sale is slated to have a spot in Chicago's starting rotation—a spot that the team has been saving for him since he was drafted in 2010. The Chicago front office and their fans are very high on him but the rest of the league could be in for a surprise when Sale finally starts his first Major League game.

Cincinnati Reds

Zack Cozart
Shortstop

Zack Cozart got an opportunity to be the Reds starting shortstop midway through the 2011 but only lasted 11 games after suffering an injury to his left elbow.

But in those 11 games, he hit .324 with two home runs. He is also a very good defensive shortstop and should be able to regain the starting job in 2012. 

Cleveland Indians

Lonnie Chisenhall
Third Base

 2011 was a rough start to Lonnie Chisenhall's Major League career. The organization's former top-prospect hit only .255 with 22 RBI and seven home runs.

Those numbers have most likely lead people around the league to forget about him. But now that the pressures of being tabbed "the next big thing" are wearing off and he can breakout and be a solid player for the Indians. 

Colorado Rockies

Willin Rosario
Catcher

Willin Rosario is the top prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization but he is going to have to earn his playing time. 

He is currently third on the depth chart behind Ramon Hernandez and Eliezer Alfonzo but Rosario has the abilities to catch fire and earn the starting job this season. Rosario has a rocket arm and can hit for power.  

Detroit Tigers

Jacob Turner
Starting Pitcher

Jacob Turner has a legitimate shot at being the Tigers' fifth starter at the young age of 20 years old.

Turner has looked great in the minor leagues, striking out 110 batters in 130 innings while compiling a 3.44 ERA. He has great command and his secondary pitches are coming along nicely.

He can definitely surprise some people in 2012 on an already potent Tigers team.  

Houston Astros

Bud Norris
Starting Pitcher

Bud Norris was one of the bright spots for the Astros in 2011. 

He went 6-11 with a 3.77 ERA on the worst team in baseball. Not many people took notice of his stuff because of that, but don't be wary of his record—Norris could be a solid back-end of the rotation pitcher in almost every contending team's starting five. 

Kansas City Royals

Lorenzo Cain
Center Field 

Lorenzo Cain, who the Royals received for Zack Greinke, will replace Melky Cabrera as Kansas City's center fielder in 2012.

Cain has the speed and the glove to play just as well as Cabrera did defensively. And while he is a different hitter, Cain should produce at the plate as well. In 2010 with the Milwaukee Brewers, he hit .306 in 43 games. Last season, he hit .273 with the Royals in six games.

Look out for another young outfielder to make his mark in Kansas City this season as well, Wil Myers. 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Peter Bourjos 
Center Field 

Amid the outfield controversy in Anaheim—the Angels have five outfielders who could all be starters—Peter Bourjos has kept his starting job in center field.

Bourjos has quietly become a mainstay in the Angels' outfield by playing great defense and hit .271 with 77 runs in 2011.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Dee Gordon
Shortstop

Dee Gordon needs to improve his defense but he provides a great spark to a Dodger offense that was lacking one in 2011. On the year, he hit .304 with 24 stolen bases.

He is an exciting young player and will surprise many people in 2012 as he is slated to be the starting shortstop on Opening Day.

Miami Marlins

Emilio Bonifacio
Center Field

Emilio Bonifacio is one of the fastest players in baseball and for awhile, it was simply his speed that would have him break into the Marlins' lineup.

But in 2012, Bonifacio is the starting center fielder for the Marlins and looking to build off of a season where he hit .296 and stole 40 bases. 

Milwaukee Brewers

Mat Gamel
First Base

Mat Gamel is the man who will try to replace Prince Fielder as the first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers. Talk about a tough position to be in.

Gamel has been a good player in the minors, hitting .304, but has struggles in the big leagues. But in a lineup that is solidified, it's Gamel's turn to produce at first base in Milwaukee. 

Minnesota Twins

Jamey Carroll
Shortstop

With the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jamey Carroll was essentially an everyday player in 2011. He played in 146 games as a utility player. In those games, he hit .290 and scored 52 runs.

Now, he enters his first year with the Twins as the starting shortstop. Assuming he can still put up those numbers as an actual starting player, his signing was one of the more underrated ones of the offseason.

New York Mets

Lucas Duda
Right Field

Last season, Lucas Duda played in 100 games for the New York Mets and played well enough to be projected as the starting right fielder in 2012.

In 2011, Duda hit .292 with an OPS of .852—the highest for all Major League rookies. But he will have to play better and drive in more than 50 RBI if he wants to make a name for himself outside of New York. 

New York Yankees

David Robertson
Relief Pitcher

It's hard to be under-the-radar for a team like the New York Yankees but setup man David Robertson has managed to do it.

In his first season as a setup man, he recorded 100 strikeouts, led the American League with a 1.08 ERA and was an All-Star. He also finished with a vote each for the Cy Young Award and for AL MVP.

Look for an even better year from Robertson in 2012—he won't be under-the-radar for long.

Oakland Athletics

Jemile Weeks
Second Base

If you haven't heard it before, you're hearing it now—Jemile Weeks is going to be a star.

Because of that, Weeks was named the only untouchable player on the Oakland A's roster during the 2012 offseason.

In his rookie year, Weeks hit .303 with 22 stolen bases and 50 runs on the very offensively-challenged A's. For now, he's still an unknown among casual fans—but he won't be for long.

Philadelphia Phillies

Vance Worley
Starting Pitcher

When the Philadelphia Phillies point together one of the best pitching staffs that Major League Baseball has seen, in 2011, no one thought Vance Worley would play a large role in it.

But when he was called upon, he pitched valiantly, often filling in for the injured Roy Oswalt. Worley, out of Long Beach State, finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting thanks to his 11-3 record and 3.01 ERA.

With Oswalt now gone, Worley's role will increase as he looks to become the new member of "The Big Four," joining Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Neil Walker
Second Base

Neil Walker came almost out of nowhere to be one of the biggest surprises of the Pittsburgh Pirates surprise season.

Walker hit .273, drove in 83 runs and scored 73 runs last season. He could be a breakout star if he keeps that pace up in 2012 and if the Pirates continue to improve. 

San Diego Padres

Cameron Maybin
Center Field

After being considered a possible bust, Cameron Maybin had a great 2011.

The speedy center fielder hit .264, stole 40 bases, knocked in 40 RBI and scored 82 runs. He is only 24, plays good defense and put up those numbers at the black hole that is the Padres' Petco Park.

The only reason more people don't know about him? The Padres fell back into obscurity in 2011. But if he keeps this up, don't expect him on the list for much longer.

San Francisco Giants

Nate Schierholtz
Right Field

Nate Schierholtz is finally being given the opportunity that he should have gotten a few years ago—the chance to be the starting right fielder for the Giants.

Schierholtz is known for his great glove out there at AT&T Park but he is more than just a defensive outfielder. He is a solid hitter and in limited time in 2011, Schierholtz hit .278 with 42 runs and 41 RBI. 

Seattle Mariners

Jason Vargas
Starting Pitcher

After bouncing around with the Florida Marlins and New York Mets, Jason Vargas has really found a home with the Seattle Mariners.

He hasn't put up the best numbers, 10-13 and a 4.25 ERA, but the Mariners aren't the best team out there and in no way is he as dominating as Felix Hernandez or even Michael Pineda.

But Vargas gets the job done and surprises his opponents—in one game he out-dueled Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, striking out nine in seven innings.

St. Louis Cardinals

Daniel Descalso
Second Base

Daniel Descalso will enter 2012 with a shot of being the Cardinals starting second baseman after hitting .264 and scoring 35 runs in only 326 at bats.

Descalso is very good defensively but really needs to prove himself as a hitter to win the starting job for the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. 

Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Joyce
Right Field

Matt Joyce has made a name for himself with the Tampa Bay Rays—he was selected to his first ever All-Star game in 2011. He hit .277 with 69 runs and 75 RBI last season thanks to his strong first half.

But he is still a name that gets somewhat buried in the shuffle behind names like Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist. 

Texas Rangers

Craig Gentry
Center Field

Craig Gentry could enter the season as the Rangers' starting center fielder if they do in fact move Josh Hamilton to left field to help protect him.

If Gentry does become the starter, he could be the next Ranger in line for an offensive outburst after hitting .271 and stole 18 bases in only 64 games in 2011. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Travis d'Arnaud
Catcher

Yes, the Blue Jays have J.P Arencibia and Jeff Mathis currently ahead of 22 year-old Travis d'Arnaud, but d'Arnaud is the team's top prospect.

He was a cornerstone of the trade that sent Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies and his time is coming soon in Toronto.

If there are any injuries behind the plate, the d'Arnaud era will begin in Toronto and the rest of the league better watch out.

Washington Nationals

Drew Storen
Closer

Look out National League East, Drew Storen is coming.

Storen saved 43 games in 48 opportunities while striking out 74 batters in 75 innings. He was also 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA. His 43 saves tied him with Heath Bell for sixth in MLB.

In 2012, the Nationals look to be a much-improved team and that will give Storen even more opportunities to show his electric stuff out of the Washington bullpen.