Spring training is a time of hope across the baseball landscape. It is a time to dream of what could be for the 2025 season. It is also a time when baseball pundits and fans project what will happen in the upcoming season. Lineup projections, pitching rotations, breakout stars, and impact newcomers are topics of conversation and debate throughout baseball to understand what value players on a team’s roster will provide.

There is a lot of focus on the stars of the game and how they will impact their organizations in the upcoming season. However, many players do not get star-level notoriety and bring significant value to their team. This analysis will look back at the 2024 season and pick a lesser-known player at each position who excelled at the plate.

This analysis uses batter run value for plate appearances at each position. Batter run value measures the run impact of every pitch a hitter sees based on the game situation. The basis of this statistic is that there is a statistical average expectancy that a run will score for every situation of outs and runners on base. Run value measures the change in run expectancy for every event throughout a period (the 2024 season is the period for this analysis).

Run value is a cumulative stat, meaning that a player will accumulate more events the more they play. Therefore, playing time, platooning, and injuries will affect the run value accumulated. The number of events occurring while the player plays the specified position will also impact the analysis. Players playing multiple positions may have fewer events at one position to accumulate higher run values. As a result, the study will also consider run value per 100 pitches. Using a rate stat turns the run value stat into a rate stat. Using this rate stat will help mitigate the effects of having significantly more events. There is one more caveat to consider before setting our lineup. When looking at run value, the outfield positions can be tricky because more players play at multiple outfield positions throughout the season. Instead of designating positions (left, center, and right field), the analysis will take run value while playing outfield. However, the lineup will include one player who played most of their season in center field because of the significance of the ability to play that position.

Catcher

Joey Bart: 10 Batter Run-Value (7th among catchers), 1.1 Batter RV/100 (7th among catchers)

Joey Bart’s career path has been fascinating. He came up as one of the top prospects in baseball with the San Francisco Giants, making his MLB debut in 2020. He accumulated 0.7 WAR with an OPS+ of 75 in his first four seasons. The Giants had a blossoming young catcher in Patrick Bailey. They designated Bart for assignment coming out of spring training in 2024, trading him to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bart finally lived up to the potential many saw when he was a prospect. He put together a .265/.337/.462 slash line (batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage) in 80 games, splitting time with veteran Yasmani Grandal and highly regarded prospect Henry Davis. He amassed a .799 OPS and 120 OPS+.

Splitting time and playing in the Pittsburgh market made it difficult for Bart to gain the notoriety that some of his contemporaries received. Further, he’s a well below-average fielder at a premium defensive position (18th percentile in fielding run value). However, his offensive capabilities at the catcher position are impressive enough to land him the most underrated player when looking at batter run value.

First Base

Nathaniel Lowe: 20 Batter Run-Value (3rd among first basemen), 0.8 Batter RV/100

Free agent signings and trade acquisitions are the heartbeat of the baseball world throughout the off-season. First base was a position with many moving parts leading up to the 2025 season. Former MVP Paul Goldschmidt signed with the New York Yankees. Each league’s reigning gold glove winners signed with new teams (Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros, and Carlos Santana returned to the Cleveland Guardians). Many followed Pete Alonso’s free agency, which saw him ultimately resign with the New York Mets. One less followed part of the first base carousel was the Texas Rangers trading for former Florida Marlins infielder Jake Burger and subsequently trading Nathaniel Lowe to the Washington Nationals.

Lowe had a breakout season in 2022, earning the American League Silver Slugger Award. He slugged 27 home runs and posted a .851 OPS and 139 OPS+ during the 2022 campaign. His 2023 season was not as productive at the plate, but he won his first gold glove and was a key piece in the Texas Rangers World Series championship.

Although it was not as dynamic as his 2022 season, Lowe put together an outstanding offensive season in 2024. He slashed .265/.361/.401 with a .762 OPS and 120 OPS+. A season where you hit 20% above the league average is nothing to sneeze at. However, first base is often seen as a power-hitting position. Lowe has impressive on-base numbers but only hit 33 extra-base hits in 2024, 16 via the long ball. Lowe flies under the radar despite his impressive 2022 season and the accolades from the 2023 World Series. Lowe may not fit the fan profile of a power threat first base stalwart in the middle of his team’s lineup, but he is a valuable hitter that flies under the radar. He will be an important piece as the Washington Nationals look to contend with a roster of young potential stars.

Note: In subsequent articles, I will write and reveal the most underrated players by position and value. Be on the lookout for more!