Sun Sep 15 11:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Beyond Judge and Ohtani: 10 MLB Players Deserving More Recognition in 2024

While Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani continue to dominate headlines, several other players are quietly putting together phenomenal seasons, overshadowed by various factors. This article highlights ten such players, exploring the reasons behind their underappreciation and showcasing their impressive achievements.

**Willy Adames (Brewers):** Despite leading the NL in RBIs for a time, Adames’ incredible season goes unnoticed due to playing in a small market and being overshadowed by fellow Brewers rookie Jackson Chourio.

**Jarren Duran (Red Sox):** Duran’s stellar offensive and defensive contributions rank him among baseball’s most valuable players, yet he remains overshadowed by Rafael Devers and the Red Sox’s struggles.

**Freddie Freeman (Dodgers):** At 35, Freeman is having another fantastic season, but his achievements are lost in the noise of Shohei Ohtani’s historic pursuit of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases.

**Logan Gilbert (Mariners):** Gilbert leads the majors in WHIP and is on track to lead in innings pitched, but his lack of run support has resulted in a losing record, hindering his recognition.

**Hunter Greene (Reds):** Greene’s dominant start to the season, including a stretch of seven consecutive quality starts, was cut short by injury. The Reds’ struggles and the emergence of Elly De La Cruz have further obscured Greene’s brilliance.

**Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays):** Guerrero Jr.’s remarkable resurgence after June has been overshadowed by trade talk surrounding the Blue Jays and Aaron Judge’s MVP campaign.

**Raisel Iglesias (Braves):** Iglesias is having a career-defining season as a closer, but his performance is often overlooked due to Emmanuel Clase’s dominance in the reliever conversation and the Braves’ focus on Chris Sale and Marcell Ozuna.

**Brent Rooker (Athletics):** Rooker’s outstanding season on a struggling A’s team, including a potential 40 home runs and .300 batting average, has gone largely unnoticed.

**Ranger Suárez (Phillies):** Despite consistently performing at a high level, Suárez’s achievements are overshadowed by the signings of Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, and the early-season brilliance of Ranger Suárez.

**Anthony Santander (Orioles):** Santander’s 40-homer season is impressive, but his performance is overshadowed by teammate Gunnar Henderson and the loaded AL MVP race, further hindered by his perceived defensive limitations.

These players have all proven their worth in 2024, deserving greater recognition for their individual excellence. Their stories highlight the complexities of individual achievements within the larger narrative of the MLB season, where team performance, market size, and the emergence of other stars can often overshadow individual brilliance.

Read More