MLB's 2012 All-Underrated Team

It is early in the 2012 season and we have already seen many surprises. Teams who we don't expect to be leading their divisions, rookies performing at veteran levels, and the biggest story, Albert Pujols performing well below expectations.

We can expect more things that are exciting as the season goes on but for right now, you have to enjoy it. So far, there have been many under the radar players who are performing at a high level.

I will be looking at the top underrated players for each position so far in the 2012 season.

Enjoy.

Catcher: Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies

Ruiz is off to a good start for 2012. He already has five home runs in just 27 games. His career high is nine home runs so he seems to be well on his way to breaking that.

Ruiz is leading all active major league catchers in batting average and slugging percentage. He is having himself a great start offensively.

He is also just one of two catchers to have not committed an error so far this season.

1st Base: Brian LaHair

Brian LaHair currently is leading all first baseman with a monster .384 average and eight home runs.

In just his second season in the majors, LaHair is producing nicely for the Cubs. We are only two months into the season and LaHair has already set many personal records for himself.

Have the Cubs finally found their first baseman of the future? They hope so, but for right now, they just hope that he can help them make it to the playoffs.

2nd Base: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

At just 5'5”, Altuve is on the shorter side of major league players, but he plays as if he is much taller. Altuve is leading all major league second basemen in batting average and hits.

Altuve is in his first major league season at 22 years old. He has two home runs and 13 RBI currently.

The Astros have a talented player on their hands right now and would be wise not to let him go.

3rd Base: David Wright, New York Mets

David Wright may not be as under the radar as most of these players but he has been injury prone the past few years and some people have not taken notice to him.

He is currently fifth in the majors in batting average and first among third basemen.

He has hit three homeruns and driven in 18 RBI. If he stays healthy, he will be back to his old ways of 25+ home runs and 100+ RBI.

Short Stop: Rafael Furcal, St. Louis Cardinals

At 34 years of age, Furcal can still hit the ball as well as anybody in the majors. He is currently second in the batting race among short stops and he is second in doubles among short stops with 10.

Furcal has flown under the radar mostly because of his age, but the Cardinals have taken notice and are playing him day in and day out. He is a key man for the Cardinals to get on base and score runs.

Left Field: Josh Willingham, Minnesota Twins

Josh Willingham has already smacked seven home runs for the Twins this season.

He has been the highlight of the team, leading the Twins in just about every offensive category. This is turning out to be a great off-season pick up for the Twins who need all the help they can get right now.

Center Field: Jon Jay, St. Louis Cardinals

If it were not for Matt Kemp and Josh Hamilton playing center field, Jon Jay might get more attention.

I am not even sure how many people know who Jon Jay is outside of St. Louis.

He is currently fourth in the batting race in the entire league. His glove has done just as well as his bat though; Jay has yet to make an error this season.

He did suffer a minor right shoulder strain earlier in the season but that has not stopped him from producing.

Right Field: Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals

I am not sure if Beltran has bad luck or it is just a coincidence that every night Beltran has a good game, something even better happens.

Beltran might be the least under the radar player on this because of his season long performance but just think about what has happened the nights he has performed well. On the night Beltran goes 4-5 with two home runs and seven RBI, Jered Weaver throws a no-hitter.

The second time, Beltran goes 2-4 with two homeruns and six RBI, and Josh Hamilton just happens to hit four homeruns that night.

Either one of these nights, Beltran would have been the top story for MLB, but he has flown under the radar due to those events happening on the same night.