9 under-the-radar impact players for contenders

As 13-man pitching staffs became a new norm across Major League Baseball in recent years, the value of what Buck Showalter used to call “regular irregulars” -- versatile guys who could be plugged in just about anywhere and provide the equivalent of two bench players in the form of one -- continued to increase.

Marwin Gonzalez (then with the Astros), Chris Taylor (Dodgers), Enrique Hernández (Dodgers) and Brock Holt (Red Sox) fit that bill for recent World Series participants. Jeff McNeil (Mets) has had such a large impact in both the infield and outfield this year that he was named a National League All-Star.

Here, with stats from Baseball Reference, are nine regular irregulars (enough to fill a lineup) who haven’t attracted that type of attention but have boosted their club’s postseason chances and/or could make their mark in October.

Tommy Edman, STL
Positions (games played): 3B (36), 2B (18), PH (14), RF (8), LF (1), CF (1)
Stats: .285 AVG, .321 OBP, .440 SLG, 94 OPS+, 1.5 WAR

The 24-year-old Edman debuted in early June and has forced his way into consistent duty with decent production in a variety of roles. His best asset might be his baserunning. FanGraphs’ BsR stat incorporates all baserunning plays (steals, caught stealing, taking extra bases, etc.) into account in a runs above average metric and has Edman (4.0) second only to Kolton Wong (5.5) on this club.

Ehire Adrianza, MIN
Positions: SS (22), 3B (21), 1B (19), 2B (7), PH (11), PR (8), RF (3), LF (1), P (1)
Stats: .287 AVG, .371 OBP, .431 SLG, 112 OPS+, 1.4 WAR

and Luis Arraez, MIN
Positions: 2B (34), 3B (12), LF (12), SS (6), DH (4), PH (3), PR (1)
Stats: .335 AVG, .402 OBP, .434 SLG, 123 OPS+, .9 WAR

By now, most baseball fans know about Gonzalez, who got a $12 million deal from the Twins on the might of the impact he had on the 2017 World Series champion Astros. But in addition to their baseball-bashing lineup and improved pitching staff, a big key to the Twins’ rise to the top of the AL Central this season is that they have three Gonzalezes (or should we call it three Marwins Above Replacement)?

Adrianza is a former waiver claim who has been a revelation at the plate in his age-29 season, and while Arraez has settled into more consistent time at second base, he’s bounced around a bit and provided more impact than anticipated in his rookie season.

Scott Kingery, PHI
Positions: CF (49), 2B (10), 3B (28), SS (11), LF (10), RF (1), PH (6)
Stats: .273 AVG, .336 OBP, .499 SLG, 111 OPS+, 2.1 WAR

After he was signed to an extension (six years, $24 million) before setting foot in the big leagues in 2018, Kingery took his lumps in his rookie year. This season, he’s looked more relaxed and comfortable, and he’s made some key contributions to a Phillies club battered by the first-half injury to Andrew McCutchen and the disappointing production of Maikel Franco, among other factors.

Chad Pinder, OAK
Positions: LF (36), RF (22), PH (21), 2B (20), 3B (15), 1B (2), SS (2), DH (2), CF (1), PR (1)
Stats: .242 AVG, .288 OBP, .425 SLG, 89 OPS+, 1.2 WAR

Pinder was a vital piece of Oakland's Wild Card run last year, and while his rate offensive stats are a slight step down from 2018, he remains a reliable glove at a multitude of spots, which is no small feat. The A’s rave about his value in their roster construction and their clubhouse. Watch this catch he made earlier this month and then remember that this was his first (and thus far only) start of the season in center field.

Howie Kendrick, WSH
Positions: 1B (38), PH (32), 2B (19), 3B (15), DH (4)
Stats: .330 AVG, .382 OBP, .563 SLG, 136 OPS+, 1.8 WAR

and Gerardo Parra, WSH
Positions: PH (38), 1B (14), RF (12), CF (10), LF (3), 2B (1), 3B (1), P (1)
Stats: .266 AVG, .320 OBP, .475 SLG, 98 OPS+, 0.7 WAR

Kendrick (1.152 OPS as a pinch-hitter, .968 OPS with men on, 1.210 OPS in late and close situations) was a bit of an All-Star snub in his age-36 campaign. He’s been the quintessential role player this year.

The Nats liked having a resurgent 30-something utility type so much that they went out and acquired another one midseason. Parra looked totally lost at the plate in roughly 100 plate appearances with the Giants before he was released in early May. Washington scooped him up, and he’s had some big moments, including a game-winning grand slam against the Dodgers. Perhaps most importantly (and it’s hard to say if this is good or bad), he inspired the “Baby Shark” phenomenon at Nationals Park.

Mike Freeman, CLE
Positions: 2B (17), 3B (11), SS (9), PH (9), LF (6), PR (6), DH (1), P (1)
Stats: .281 AVG, .368 OBP, .439 SLG, 111 OPS+, 0.8 WAR

The 32-year-old Freeman has spent parts of the last four seasons in the big leagues but never had this much playing time -- and on a contender, no less. He’s delivered a .979 OPS with runners in scoring position. You’ll be seeing a lot more of Freeman now that third baseman Jose Ramirez is out with a broken right hamate bone.

Aledmys Díaz, HOU
Positions: 2B (18), 1B (12), 3B (8), PH (6), SS (5), LF (3), DH (1), PR (2)
Stats: .267 AVG, .320 OBP, .474 SLG, 107 OPS+, 0.7 WAR

Diaz, acquired essentially as a Gonzalez replacement, hasn’t had nearly the impact anticipated, because his playing time has been limited by injury and illness. But he’s worth mentioning here for the contributions the Astros hope he can make come October.