Colorado Rockies: DJ LeMahieu is the most underrated player in the MLB

It is no secret the Rockies have one of the most high powered offenses in the MLB. This is stacked full of big bats, like Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, and also guys who repeatedly find their way on base, like Mark Reynolds. Then there is Charlie Blackmon, who just seems to do anything you need from him.

However, there is another player on the Rockies who never gets the proper recognition. DJ Lemahieu is one of the most valuable players in the entire MLB, and one of the most underrated players in the league. Rockies fans usually do not put him up there with the best sluggers on the team.

Proof LeMahieu is underrated

In 7 years of play, DJ has only made 2 All-Star games. Don’t forget though that LeMahieu won the batting title in 2016 as well as finishing in the top 20 for MVP and did not make the All-Star team that year, which is just insane. LeMahieu, while only hitting 11 home runs, hit for an outstanding average of .348.

He also has hit better than .300 for 3 consecutive years and had an on base percentage of .350 or better. In 2016, it was as high as .416. But, perhaps, the most eye opening stat is his runs total. One of the most underrated stats in baseball, runs tally how many times you make it around the bases. LeMahieu has averaged 95 runs in the last three seasons.

This averages out to where DJ scores a run for the Rockies a little more than once every other game. Now, think about every time the Rockies won by 1 run or in extra innings. With half of those games being losses instead of wins, the Rockies would have been in a totally different situation going into the playoffs. Since Colorado only made the playoffs by a single game, they would for sure had been passed up by Milwaukee.

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Why LeMahieu is underrated

The media. Period. Doesn’t that make sense? Highlight reels are cruel on LeMahieu, for he is a player who does none else than get on base by wearing out the right side of the field. But he hits 11 home runs a year, which is the exciting stat of baseball so he doesn’t get much media coverage. Also, playing in the west (and in Denver, specifically) doesn’t help when the media focuses on New York and, to a lesser extent, Los Angeles.

Think about it: the most valuable player in the NBA is not the guy with the most rebounds. It may play a factor, but typically you have to be one of the top scorers to have a shot. The same goes with baseball. Without a minimum of around 30 home runs, you have no shot at winning the MVP.

Next: Why the Rockies should get Eric Hosmer

For that reason, players like LeMahieu are underrated, undervalued, and underpaid. Luckily, Bud Black can see this, and rightfully slot him second in the lineup.