Unsung Heroes Who Are Stepping Up Big in the 2014 World Series

Hunter Pence should be on his way to winning the MVP award for the 2014 World Series. 

The wide-eyed right fielder has been making running and sliding catches in the outfield and is hitting just under .500. The problem for the 31-year-old is that his monster series has been overshadowed by Madison Bumgarner's historically dominant one. 

Pence isn't the only San Francisco Giant whose World Series heroics have gone unsung. Plus, there's one underrated Kansas City Royal who matched a feat last accomplished by George Brett. 

Jeremy Affeldt, RP, San Francisco Giants

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Jeremy Affeldt just doesn't give up runs in October. 

The reliever has reeled off 21 consecutive scoreless appearances in the playoffs, per the MLB Stat of the Day Twitter account. What makes Affeldt particularly valuable is that the lefty is equally capable of getting left-handed and right-handed batters out. 

Looking for his third ring with San Francisco, Affeldt has once again been dealing in the late innings against Kansas City. The 35-year-old has given up just two hits in three outings during the 2014 Fall Classic.

Billy Butler, DH, Kansas City Royals

With no designated hitters in the National League, there have been limited opportunities for Billy Butler to make an impact in the World Series. In Game 2, the 28-year-old made sure that the Royals left Kansas City with a split. 

Butler delivered a game-tying RBI single in the first inning and then added the go-ahead RBI hit in the sixth. That makes the right-handed hitter the first Royal since George Brett in 1985 to accomplish that feat, per ESPN Stats & Info. 

Afterward, Butler gave all the credit to his teammates, per Erin Andrews of Fox Sports, via Fox Sports MLB: "We just had a couple big hits and then the flood gates opened. That's the way our team's been all year."

Yusmeiro Petit, RP, San Francisco Giants

As Jeremy Affeldt put it, via Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com, Yusmeiro Petit is the Giants' "secret weapon."

The right-handed reliever has been lights-out for San Francisco in October, allowing zero runs on four hits in 12 innings of work. The 29-year-old has made a habit of "saving" the Giants, as manager Bruce Bochy explained. 

"We don't win any of these games without him. Every game he's been in, he saved us," said Bochy, via Bloom. 

That was definitely the case in Game 4 of the World Series. Petit entered the contest in the third inning with San Francisco trailing the Royals 4-1. The relief ace then pitched three scoreless innings as the Giants orchestrated an epic comeback to win 11-4. 

Jeremy Guthrie, SP, Kansas City Royals

With the Royals sweeping past the American League Division Series and American League Championship Series, Jeremy Guthrie hasn't had much to do in October. However, the starter has stepped up both times he's been called on during the Royals' run. 

In Game 3, the 35-year-old grabbed the win in his first-ever World Series start. Guthrie didn't record any strikeouts, but he also didn't issue any walks at AT&T Park. Guthrie allowed two runs on four hits in five-plus innings of work as the Royals edged past the Giants 3-2. 

Hunter Pence, RF, San Francisco Giants

Nobody outhustles Hunter Pence. 

Whether he's making a sliding catch in right, legging out a fielder's choice to avoid a double play or delivering a clutch hit, Pence is always going 100 percent. So far during the World Series, the veteran has been delivering a ton of big hits. Through five games, the right fielder is hitting .474 (9-for-19) with six runs, five RBI, two doubles and a home run. 

Madison Bumgarner's brilliant World Series has wrecked any chances Pence might have of claiming the MVP award. However, if he wins his second Fall Classic with the club, he won't care much about that. 

Note: All stats and videos courtesy of MLB.com. 

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.