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New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Each MLB team's 'hidden' All-Star

By Aaron Somers, David Hill, Eric Smithling, John Perrotto, Taylor Bretl, Zachary Cariola | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 10:17 AM ET

Building a competitive MLB team isn't simply a matter of collecting stars. Pitching, hitting and defense all need to come together. Players on a roster need to coexist and produce as a team to consistently reach the sport's highest levels and challenge for a championship year after year.

Still, each season, there is some unsung and unexpected hero who steps up their game and produces at an All-Star level.

Often, these aren't the game's biggest names, but the impact these players can have on their respective teams can't be understated. This week, Yardbarker's MLB writers got together to identify which players might make up these "hidden All-Stars."

(2026 and career stats are entering play on March 31.)

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott (5) Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Atlanta Braves | OF Michael Harris II | Harris II has struggled for the Braves since winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2022. Over the last two seasons, Harris has slashed .255/.284/.413 with 36 home runs. Harris produced at a better rate during the second half of the 2025 season, and the Braves are hoping those adjustments continue this spring.

Miami Marlins | RHP Eury Perez | Perez is likely the best arm in the Marlins' starting rotation after Sandy Alcantara. Now two years removed from missing the 2024 season to Tommy John surgery, the further Perez gets from the procedure, the better he has looked on the mound. His continued resurgence will be pivotal for Miami.

New York Mets | OF Luis Robert Jr. | After spending six seasons with the White Sox, it was clear that Robert Jr. needed a change in scenery. Soft tissue injuries have plagued Robert over the last several seasons, but he enters 2026 healthy and in a less-pressurized situation that may allow him to recapture his swing.

Philadelphia Phillies | 2B Bryson Stott | Stott has proven to be among the Phillies' more consistent hitters as he enters his fifth season with the club. A second-half adjustment in 2025 made a big difference, with a slash line of .294/.368/.487 after the All-Star Break, and has carried over into the spring.

Washington Nationals | RHP Cade Cavalli | Health has been a concern for Cavalli since his career began, as the right-hander missed all of the 2023 and 2024 seasons to injury. Still, Cavalli pitched well this spring, working 14.0 scoreless innings while striking out 10 over four spring training starts. A rebuilding Nationals team will be patient with Cavalli, hoping he can remain healthy so he can establish himself.

-- Zack Cariola

NL Central

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton (22) Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs | RHP Cade Horton | Horton rebounded from early struggles after his call-up in May to deliver a dominant second half in his rookie campaign, posting a 2.40 ERA over his final 19 starts. Though currently slotted in as the third starter in the Cubs' rotation, Horton has the arsenal to pitch like an ace for Chicago. His first start to the season totaled 6.1 innings, with two runs and four strikeouts.

Cincinnati Reds | 2B Matt McLain | McLain got his 2026 off to a scorching start with one of the top stat lines in all of spring training, hitting .509 with seven home runs and 16 RBI. McLain had a down season in 2025, hitting just .220, but he appears to have made several adjustments that could put him back on track.

Milwaukee Brewers | LHP Angel Zerpa | Acquired in an offseason trade from the Royals, Zerpa showed his immediate upside with 5.1 scoreless innings for Team Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic. The early production has continued with the season starting, as Zerpa has already made several scoreless appearances for Milwaukee, striking out multiple batters and inducing weak contact rates.

Pittsburgh Pirates | 3B/IF Nick Gonzales | Pittsburgh added two 2025 All-Stars to the infield this offseason (Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe). While the additions are forcing the team to shuffle players around defensively, Gonzales has shown consistent production that shouldn't be overlooked. Gonzales doesn't hit much for power, but still hit .260 over 381 at-bats a season ago. The new additions have pushed Gonzales to third base, where his reliable glove -- just nine errors in 839.2 innings in the field -- will give him a chance to further showcase his tools.

St. Louis Cardinals | RHP Michael McGreevy | The Cardinals roster underwent several changes this offseason, but McGreevy remains and earned his place as the No. 2 starter on the club with a strong spring training, allowing just three runs over 14.0 IP over his final three outings. McGreevy built on that success, delivering six scoreless innings while striking out five in his regular-season opener against the Rays.

-- Taylor Bretl

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Arizona Diamondbacks | C Gabriel Moreno | Moreno has quietly established himself as one of the top all-around catchers in the game since being acquired by the D-backs in a trade during the 2022-23 offseason. Injuries have been a concern, but the 26-year-old won a Gold Glove in 2023 and has hit .278/.348/.406 with 21 home runs over his first three seasons in Arizona.

Colorado Rockies | OF Brenton Doyle | Doyle's defense has outshone his offense since breaking into the big leagues with the Rockies in 2023, winning a Gold Glove Award in each of his first two seasons. Doyle hit 23 homers and stole 30 bases in 2024, but those totals dropped to 15 and 18 last season, while he hit just .233/.274/.376. There is still upside for the 27-year-old, especially while his home games come at Coors Field.

Los Angeles Dodgers | RHP Emmet Sheehan | It's a difficult task finding an underpublicized player on a team that has won the last two World Series. Sheehan quietly had a fine year in 2025, posting a 6-3 record and 2.82 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) while striking out 89 hitters in 73.1 IP. The only downside for the 26-year-old is that he was roughed up for seven runs in 7.2 IP in the postseason.

San Diego Padres | RHP Michael King | King has somewhat quietly compiled a 3.21 ERA and 565 strikeouts over 499.1 IP during his eight-year career. King is 18-12 with a 3.10 ERA in 46 games since arriving in San Diego during the 2023-24 offseason in a trade for Juan Soto. Even with the club in cost-cutting mode this offseason, they still brought King back on a three-year, $75 million deal that shows just how much they value him.

San Francisco Giants | OF Heliot Ramos | Ramos has been solid through his first five seasons with the Giants, hitting .255/.318/.417 (good for an OPS+ of 108). He's also hit 22 and 21 home runs in each of the last two seasons despite playing his home games at Oracle Park. At 26, Ramos could be primed for a breakout season in San Francisco.

-- John Perrotto

AL East

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Baltimore Orioles | LHP Trevor Rogers | Most of the Orioles discourse often centers around the club's offensive stars: notably catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson, though third baseman Jordan Westburg has emerged as a just-as-valuable part of a lineup that added Pete Alonso in free agency this offseason. Rogers is being tasked with anchoring the birds' starting rotation. The 28-year-old southpaw has shown flashes that he can dominate -- his 1.81 ERA last season would have led the AL if he had thrown enough innings -- but Baltimore will need Rogers to remain both healthy and consistent.

Boston Red Sox | RHP Greg Weissert | Any time a bullpen features a left-hander who is capable of regularly topping 100 mph on the radar gun, the other arms in the relief corps will largely go underappreciated. Aroldis Chapman may earn most of the save opportunities in Boston, but 31-year-old right-hander Weissert has emerged as an equally valuable asset in the Red Sox bullpen -- posting a 2.82 ERA in 67.0 IP in 2025, before going 3-for-3 in save opportunities for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic.

New York Yankees | RHP Cam Schlittler | The Yankees' storied history is littered with front-of-the-rotation starting pitchers. Max Fried took the mound on Opening Day, while Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon continue to rehab from 2025 surgeries. Meanwhile, it's Schlittler who has emerged as the next potential ace of the franchise. The 25-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut in July and ranks among the MLB leaders in innings pitched, ERA and strikeouts since, posting a 2.76 ERA with 92 SO over 78.1 IP (including his first start of 2026).

Tampa Bay Rays | 1B Yandy Diaz | Junior Caminero tends to receive most of the attention when it comes to the Rays, and the slugging third baseman may end up completely rewriting the franchise record books when his career is done. However, it's first baseman Diaz who continues to be among the more consistent offensive threats in the Tampa Bay lineup. The 34-year-old slashed .300/.366/.482 in 651 PA in 2025 with 29 2B, 25 HR, and a career-high 83 RBI.

Toronto Blue Jays | OF Daulton Varsho | Toronto's roster is loaded with well-known players, starting with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and 2025 postseason hero Ernie Clement. The Blue Jays were one of baseball's most aggressive teams this offseason, adding right-hander Dylan Cease, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and several other key players. Varsho shouldn't be overlooked in center field, however, and often isn't when the league's top defenders are discussed. The 29-year-old has hit .226/.295/.428 over his seven-year career, but brings great value defensively with his elite glove.

-- Aaron Somers

AL Central

Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Chicago White Sox | 2B Chase Meidroth | Players such as Meidroth may not light up a box score, but they tend to be valuable contributors in their own right. His ability to make contact, get on base and his solid speed on the bases make him more valuable to the White Sox than expected.

Cleveland Guardians | 1B/DH Rhys Hoskins | The Guardians have been desperately looking for someone to complement third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielder Steven Kwan in the lineup. Hoskins has hit more than 25 homers in a season five times in his career and just might be the hitter the club has been seeking.

Detroit Tigers | C Dillon Dingler | An excellent defensive backstop, Dingler led AL catchers with seven runs saved defensively and was second in caught stealing percentage (31.7%) during a Gold Glove-winning campaign in 2025. His bat may be ready to garner attention, as well, as Dingler had an above-average hard-hit rate and average exit velocity. If he can make more consistent contact at the plate, Dingler could be an emerging star for the Tigers.

Kansas City Royals | RHP Lucas Erceg | With closer Carlos Estevez struggling with command issues and showing a drastic decrease in velocity, Erceg has become one of the most important pieces of the Royals' bullpen. He does have prior closing experience, having recorded 11 saves for Kansas City after being acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, and could be the team's answer in the ninth inning.

Minnesota Twins | RHP Taj Bradley | A former top prospect, Bradley has been unable to establish himself at the major league level over parts of three seasons. He should get a more sustained chance with the Twins, and he showed his potential in his first start of the season, striking out nine hitters over 4.1 IP.

-- David Hill

AL West

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (18) Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Athletics | OF Denzel Clarke | Clarke isn't an everyday starter because of his prowess in the batter's box. Clarke made several highlight-reel catches last season after debuting, earning his role in the A's outfield thanks to his outstanding range in the field. After the team found themselves on the wrong side of history to open the 2026 season, striking out a record 50 times against the Blue Jays in the opening three-game series, they will need Clarke to continue to be an elite defender if they want to improve on last year's 76-86 record.

Houston Astros | OF Joey Loperfido | As the Astros figure out their outfield rotation, Loperfido, acquired in an offseason trade with the Blue Jays, figures to be a consistent presence. He gives Houston a much-needed left-handed bat in a righty-heavy lineup. When not starting, he's already proven valuable to manager Joe Espada as a situational hitter with a base hit off the bench during the four-game home-opening series against the Angels.

Los Angeles Angels | 1B Nolan Schanuel | Three-time MVP Mike Trout turned back the clock in L.A.'s season-opening series against the Astros, finishing the four-game set with six hits, including two home runs, in 13 at-bats while adding seven walks. If teams are going to pitch around the all-time great this season, it will be up to Schanuel to make opponents pay. After slashing .264/.353/.389 last season, he's off to a strong start in 2026, going 5-for-16 with two homers against Houston.

Seattle Mariners | DH Dominic Canzone | A part-time player last season, Canzone has taken over as Seattle's starting designated hitter after Jorge Polanco signed with the Mets in free agency. The four-year veteran played in 82 games last season, slashing .300/.358/.481 in 269 PA. He's followed it up with a solid start to 2026, with all three of his early hits going for extra bases (two homers and a double).

Texas Rangers | 1B Jake Burger | Texas finished an underwhelming 81-81 a season ago, despite ranking first in team ERA (3.47), in part due to an offense that finished 22nd in runs per game (4.22). Burger was part of the problem, producing a modest .236/.269/.419 slash line with 16 HR in 103 games. He has the potential to be a more impactful hitter, with his barrels per plate appearance rate (9.8 percent) ranking 29th out of 557 recorded players. After hitting a pair of homers during Texas' three-game opening series against the Phillies, Burger appears headed back in the right direction.

-- Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

Aaron Somers

Aaron Somers has more than a decade of experience writing about sports and has been published in numerous outlets, but baseball is and has always been his biggest passion. You can follow him on BlueSky, @AaronJSomers.

David Hill

Based in the mountains of Vermont, Dave has over a decade of experience writing about all things baseball. Just don't ask his thoughts on the universal DH.

Taylor Bretl

Taylor Bretl writes about Major League Baseball with a focus on the Milwaukee Brewers. He is founder of Around the Globe Baseball.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

John Perrotto

John Perrotto has covered Major League Baseball since 1988, including over 20 World Series, All-Star Games, and MLB Winter Meetings. He has won awards at the national, state, and local levels and has been a Hall of Fame voter since 1998. Perrotto is based in the Pittsburgh area and has been inducted into the Beaver County and Geneva College sports halls of fame

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