Fansided

Best player on every MLB team

By Matt Whitener

Aug 24, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) looks on from the dugout during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) looks on from the dugout during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
27 of 31
Next
Oct 10, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (13) celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning in game two of the NLDS at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (13) celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning in game two of the NLDS at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

St. Louis Cardinals—Matt Carpenter

Nobody in the game works an at-bat harder than Carpenter does at the top of the Cardinal lineup. The MLB leader in most pitches per at-bat again last season, Carpenter added a new trick his offensive arsenal, as he launched a career-best 28 home runs, 19 of which came after the All-Star break. His evolution as a power hitter went to an extent that his 2015 total was three more than he had hit in his entire career entering the season.

In an oft-questionable lineup that is more reliant on its league-best pitching staff to make the runs they produce carry over, Carpenter is an anomaly. He is on on-base machine that has also begun to be run production factory as well. He led the National League in doubles for the second time in three years, which saw him finish seventh in the NL in extra base hits with 75. In each of his three seasons as a starter, three times he has finished in the top 10 for most times on base, reaching base 280, 265 and 243 times, respectively.

Where Carpenter fits into the Cardinal lineup going ahead remains to be seen. Despite his leadoff prowess, his results fashion him to a more traditional slot for a third baseman at the heart of the lineup. But regardless of where he lands, Carpenter is the single most important bridge player from the Matt Holliday/Yadier Molina era in St. Louis, and on to the new frontier ahead.

Next: Tampa Bay Rays: Chris Archer

Home/MLB