Is Matt Carpenter the most underrated player in MLB?

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When the St. Louis Cardinals were drafting in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Draft they probably had no idea what kind of player they were getting their hands on.

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That one player just so happens to be one of the best talents in Major League Baseball today. But does everyone really appreciate just how good Matt Carpenter is? From 2013 till now there hasn’t been much better than Carpenter.  Lets take a look at the numbers and see what kind of elite company he is in.

When it comes to getting on base, there aren’t a lot of people who are better than Carpenter in the entire MLB. According to Fangraphs, Carpenter ranks ninth in MLB in OBP, ranking above the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, Victor Martinez and Robinson Cano.

Carpenter also ranks 18th in the league in terms of wOBA, (weighted on-base average), coming in above some elite company in that category also. On-base percentage is very critical because it directly correlates to runs. The more you can get on base, the more runs your team will score.

OBP becomes even more important when you’re the leadoff hitter for your team, like Carpenter, because that is what you’re in that position to do. These stats show why Carpenter can also be considered the best lead off hitter in the MLB as well.

Now onto WAR, (wins above replacement). This is, in my opinion, the best stat when it comes to determining an individual’s value to their respective team. Matt Carpenter is very elite when it comes to WAR. According to Fangraphs, since 2013, he ranks sixth in WAR in all of Major League Baseball.

Carpenter has added about 13 wins by himself over the past two years for the St. Louis Cardinals – a substantial amount. He ranks above a lot of elite players when it comes to this stat – including Yasiel Puig, Paul Goldschmidt and Buster Posey – to name a few.

When you see the names Matt Carpenter is ahead of in these categories it can somewhat baffle you that the versatile Cardinals standout doesn’t get as much praise as these other stars. The numbers are staggering and can be put up there with the elite of Major League Baseball.

This has always been evident with the fans of the St. Louis Cardinals. You just watch Carpenter step up to the plate, and you know he will work the pitcher and have a great chance to get on base – one way or another.

Carpenter has been great ever since he was called up by the Cardinals and was on the cusp of the “elite” in baseball after his 2013 season, but now there is no denying how great Carpenter is, and he just might be the best third baseman in the entire league.

Next: St. Louis Cardinals announce Hall of Fame Class of 2015

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