2011 MLB Preview: The 10 Most Overrated Hitters In Baseball
There are numerous ways a hitter can be classified as overrated. A big-name player can be selected to the All-Star Game despite a mediocre season. A player can be rewarded with a hefty contract despite unspectacular play. Sometimes a player just fails to live up to the hype.
This slideshow contains 10 such hitters. Interested to find out who they are? Read on.
10. J.D. Drew
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Drew has largely failed to live up to his enormous potential.
The Boston Globe called Drew a "a five-tools player with an uncanny batting eye, a swing smoother than butter, and long, measured strides that eat up great chunks of real estate, whether running the bases or tracking down fly balls."
Despite his super swing, Drew has batted .300, hit 30 home runs or knocked in 100 runs only once during the course of a season.
However, as a frequent selection on overrated lists, Drew may now actually be underrated.
9. Carlos Beltran
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Make no mistake, Carlos Beltran is a very good player. However, he isn't as good as he's hyped up to be.
In 2005, the New York Mets offered a franchise record 7-year, $119-million contract to Beltran. He has played well, driving in 100-plus runs three consecutive years from 2006-2008.
In the past two years, however, Beltran has played in just 145 games.
In 2009, Beltran's popularity helped him garner an All-Star appearance. Despite playing in just 81 games on the season, Beltran received the third-most votes among NL outfielders (he played in 62 games before the break).
8. Shane Victorino
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Victorino benefits from being a visible member and fan favorite of the 2008 World Series champions and a three-time Gold Glove winner.
As a consequence, he is assumed to be a better hitter than what he really is. In 2009, the season he was recognized as an All-Star, Victorino turned in 10 HR, 62 RBI, 102 R, 25 SBs––good numbers, but not great.
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7. Torii Hunter
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Due to spectacular catches shown on ESPN highlight reels, people that have heard of Torii Hunter may jump to the conclusion that he's a superstar.
He does make superstar money with a five-year, $90 million contract. However, his hitting record is unremarkable.
In his career, he has driven in 100-plus runs just twice without ever breaking .300 for a season.
In 2009, Sporting News named him 44th on their list of current greatest baseball players. If he is deserving of this ranking, it's due more to defense than hitting.
6. Vernon Wells
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From 2002-2003, Wells put together good consecutive seasons and was relatively obscure due to playing in Toronto.
Since becoming the face of the Blue Jays, Wells has become overrated.
Since 2003, Wells has recorded only one 100-RBI season. Despite relatively mediocre stats, Wells is among MLB's highest paid players.
He is now with the Los Angeles Angels.
5. Jimmy Rollins
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Rollins' reputation is inflated due to the excitement he brings to the game.
Rollins has never had a .300 average or .350 OBP over the course of a season. For his career, he has a .328 OBP, mediocre for a top-of-the-lineup hitter.
Rollins did win the NL MVP award in 2007. However, his stats have declined considerably since then.
4. Alfonso Soriano
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Soriano has exciting speed and power. In 2006, he became a member of the 40-40 club. Fans typically remember this about Soriano.
The problem is his lack of plate discipline. In his best season, he drew 67 walks––the only time in his career with more than 45 in a single season. For a player that has batted mostly leadoff, his .326 OBP leaves much to be desired.
He has declined since coming to Chicago and hasn't lived up to his eight-year, $136 million contract.
3. Adrian Beltre
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In 2004, Beltre had a breakout season with 48 HR and 121 RBI. The Seattle Mariners offered him a five-year, $64 million contract.
In his stint with Seattle, Beltre never once scored or drove in 100 runs. His highest season batting average over that time was .276.
In his lone season with Boston, Beltre drove in 102 runs and hit .321. Texas awarded him a six-year, $96 million contract.
For someone with only two seasons over .300 and 100 RBI, this contract seems very generous. Could the Rangers be possibly making the same mistake Seattle did?
2. B.J. Upton
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When fans think of Upton, they remember his solid 2007 campaign. However, he has not played at that level since.
Over the past two seasons, Upton has batted .241 and .237 respectively, a far cry from the .300 he hit in 2007.
He did not expend average for power because his home run numbers are also down since 2007.
Before the 2010 season, Peter Gammons picked Upton as AL MVP. Upton rewarded Gammon's pick with a .237, 18 HR, 62 RBI stat line.
1. Jayson Werth
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During his stint in Philadelphia, Werth was a good support player for stars like Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
On December 5, Werth signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with the Washington Nationals.
Washington paid superstar-like money for a player who's never hit .300 or 100 RBIs in a season?
Werth simply isn't worth the large contract.
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