Selecting MLB's 2015 All-X-Factor Team

Karl BuscheckApr 19, 2015

From Mookie Betts to Miguel Castro, there are all sorts of players who are primed to be X-factors during the 2015 MLB season.

They are the wildcards. They are the big leaguers whose production is wildly important, but downright difficult to predict. Imagine building an entire squad out of that kind of player: the all-X-factor team.

It would be a team full of ballplayers who have the potential to make or break the playoff chase. There's only one rule in the construction process: no superstars.

There's no question that a guy like Andrew McCutchen is absolutely vital to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015. At the same time, building a team populated by the likes of McCutchen, Madison Bumgarner and Miguel Cabrera would turn out as the all-superstar team, not the all-X-factor club. So, only players who are clearly not the No. 1 star of their respective franchise are eligible for inclusion.

Even with that rule in place, there are still plenty of prominent names in this lineup. A few of the players under consideration are rebounding from major injuries and need to prove that they can successfully bounce back. A lot of them are emerging starts with big-time upside. And there's even room for a wily veteran who just won't go away.

Catcher

1 of 12

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

In the Mix: Stephen Vogt, Oakland Athletics; Caleb Joseph, Baltimore Orioles

The All-X-Factor Team Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

Salvador Perez is on the rise.

Just 24 years old, the backstop is already a renowned game-caller and a Gold Glove-winner behind the plate. He's also becoming a force at the plate. After 12 games, Perez is swinging at a clip of .362 (17-for-47) and he has cracked three doubles and three bombs.

A true difference-maker with the glove and the bat, Perez will play a critical role in determining how the crazy competitive race for the American League Central crown shakes out.

1st Base

2 of 12

In the Mix: Lucas Duda, New York Mets; Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals; Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals

The All-X-Factor Team First Baseman: Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates

Courtesy of a seriously underwhelming 2014, Pedro Alvarez was relegated to the dust bin of irrelevance.

This year, the 28-year-old is lining up at a new position and is looking like a new player.

Alvarez, who is now holding down first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has gone yard four times in the first 12 games. General manager Neal Huntington admitted to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN that other clubs were kicking the trade tires on the lefty hitter over the winter.

"There were probably some people looking to buy low. You can't fault them for it."

Right now, the Pirates brass is looking awfully smart for refusing to sell low on Alvarez.

2nd Base

3 of 12

In the Mix: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox; Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Dodgers; Ben Zobrist, Oakland Athletics; Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians; Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals

The All-X-Factor Team Second Baseman: DJ LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies

DJ LeMahieu is a an easy-going dude.

When Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post asked the second baseman where he put his 2014 National League Gold Glove, LeMahieu didn't really know what to say.

"Everybody keeps asking me that, and I feel like I should have a cool answer, but I haven't given it a lot of thought."

He's also been really productive for the Colorado Rockies in the opening weeks of the season. Primarily a glove-first player in his tenure at Coors Field, LeMahieu's bat is now doing some talking. In 12 games, the right-handed hitter is the owner of a .463 (19-for-41) average.

TOP NEWS

Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Angels

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

Shortstop

4 of 12

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

In the Mix: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox; Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals; Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds

The All-X-Factor Team Shortstop: Jose Iglesias, Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers lineup is stacked.

Just take a look at the stats. The club is tied for second in baseball in runs. All the attention is focused on mashers like Miguel Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes, but Jose Iglesias has quietly been making some noise.

Already a wizard with the mitt, Iglesias is hitting .436 (17-for-39), which is the fourth-best mark in the bigs. On April 17, Iglesias even contributed hit first walk-off hit. It wasn't nearly as epic as Jon Snow's parting shot at the beginning of Season 5 of HBO's Game of Thrones, but the single still got the job done.

3rd Base

5 of 12

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

In the Mix: Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals; Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates

The All-X-Factor Team Third Baseman: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles lost some headliners over the winter, as Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller all exited Camden Yards.

The team also got one back in Manny Machado.

After knee injuries spoiled his 2014, the third baseman is slowly rounding back into form for the O's. In his first 12 games, the 22-year-old is hitting .167 (7-for-42) and has only collected two extra-base hits (one double and one home run). Baltimore is going to need Machado to step it up, as the squad angles to defend its AL East title.

Left Field

6 of 12

In the Mix: Nori Aoki, San Francisco Giants; Kevin Pillar, Toronto Blue Jays; Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners

The All-X-Factor Team Left Fielder: Michael Cuddyer, New York Mets

The New York Mets are cruising.

One of the big differences between this year's squad and last season's crew is that the NL East front-runners are actually scoring runs. The club ranks a respectable fourth in that department in the NL. A lot of credit has to be given to left fielder Michael Cuddyer.

Wherever he's played, the vet has raked. It's been no different in Queens. In his first couple of weeks with the Mets, the 36-year-old is batting .333 (15-for-45) with an .899 OPS.

Center Field

7 of 12

In the Mix: Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals; Juan Lagares, New York Mets; A.J. Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks; Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs

The All-X-Factor Team Center Field: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

Mookie Betts is a triple threat.

The 22-year-old has the ability to impact a game with his glove, his bat and his feet. On April 13 against the Washington Nationals, Betts did just that. The center fielder smashed a home run over the Green Monster, pulled a Bryce Harper bomb back from the Boston Red Sox's bullpen and swiped two bases.

Of course, Betts has also hit a few speed bumps as he settles in as the Red Sox's new table-setter. The second-year player has two doubles and two home runs in his first 11 games, but he also owns a .191 (9-for-47) average.

Right Field

8 of 12

In the Mix: Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox; Jorge Soler, Chicago Cubs; Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants

The All-X-Factor Team Center Field: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

This is a tricky call.

Jorge Soler is the top runner-up. Right now, the Cuban looks like the extremely early favorite to snag the NL Rookie of the year honors. But ultimately, Bryce Harper gets the nod.

The word "overrated" is often attached to the Washington Nationals right fielder. Per Scott Allen of The Washington Post, Harper was voted the most overrated big leaguer in a player poll conducted by ESPN the Magazine. That marks the second year in a row that Harper has earned that notorious distinction.

It's also inaccurate.

Harper isn't overrated. He's ridiculously young. At 22 years old, the outfielder is embarking on his fourth season in the majors. According to Baseball-Reference.com, via the Ace of MLB Stats Twitter account, Harper has never squared off against a pitcher who is younger than him as a professional. He's also younger than Soler, who's just starting his first full season with the Chicago Cubs.

Already, the Nat has tallied four home runs in 13 contests. As Aaron Harang learned on April 18, and as you can watch in the video above, when Harper gets a hold of a pitch, he destroys it.

Designated Hitter

9 of 12

In the Mix: Kendrys Morales, Kansas City Royals; Billy Butler, Oakland Athletics

The All-X-Factor Team Designated Hitter: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

Alex Rodriguez can still hit a little.

The New York Yankees designated hitter and sometimes first baseman/third baseman has connected on four home runs and three doubles, as he's posted a .316 (12-for-38) average and a 1.157 OPS. Sure, it's still April, but those are All-Star-caliber numbers.

With 658 big flies, A-Rod is also closing in on Willie Mays' figure of 660 and careening toward a supremely awkward on-field celebration.

Starter

10 of 12

In the Mix: Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays; Bartolo Colon, New York Mets; Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers; Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins; Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox; Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians; C.J. Wilson, Los Angeles Angels

The All-X-Factor Team Starter: Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals

Carlos Martinez is not your typical fifth starter. Not even close.

The St. Louis Cardinals right-hander is simply a strikeout-throwing machine. The Dominican has made two starts for the Cards, and has already piled up 13 punchouts in as many frames.

Everyone knows what to expect from Adam Wainwright and the ace-in-training Lance Lynn, but Martinez has the stuff to be a sneaky-good weapon for the NL Central squad in 2015.

Closer

11 of 12

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

In the Mix: Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians; Jeurys Familia, New York Mets; Sean Doolittle, Oakland Athletics; David Robertson, Chicago White Sox

The All-X-Factor Team Closer: Miguel Castro, Toronto Blue Jays

Ranking No. 25 in ERA, the bullpen was a mess for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014. Fortunately for Toronto, a 20-year-old phenom has arrived on the scene to clean things up.

Miguel Castro, who began 2014 in Low-A, is now closing in the majors. So far, the Dominican is two-for-three in save opportunities and has allowed one earned run in seven outings. It's been a remarkable rise for Castro, and the timing couldn't be any better for his employer.