2019 MLB All-WTF?!? Team

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Alright, so we’re just over a month into the baseball season. What we see now will probably be a lot different come September but that’s not gonna stop me from looking.

There are two surprising first-place teams: Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

One will change eventually (that’s you, Tampa) while the other, I believe, can stick it out.

Elsewhere, the division leaders are about right; I think Philly, St. Louis, LA, and Houston are the best teams in their groups.

Enough with teams, though. We’re at a point in the season where some weird players have big numbers and some star players are pooping the bed; it’s one of the best times in a baseball season to look at stats. And that’s what I’ve been doing.

I put together a list of dudes killing it this year that aren’t supposed to be: the All-WTF?!? Team. This isn’t a list for the Christian Yelich‘s of the world; they’re mostly guys that casual fans haven’t heard of, aging stars supposedly passed their primes and mid-level dudes that are locked in at the plate.

Enjoy.

2019 MLB All-WTF?!? Team
(through 5/3/19)

C: James McCann (CWS)

After five seasons in Detroit where he never topped .270 in the batting average column, McCann is hitting over .360 with plenty of power for the White Sox. It’s gotta be the change of scenery, right? D-town is great and all but the Windy City is…better.

  • 2018: 118 GP, 8 HR, .220 BA, .581 OPS
  • 2019: 16 GP, 3 HR, .365 BA, .999 OPS

1B: Christian Walker (ARI)

A former Orioles prospect, Walker is finally getting a chance to play every day for the D-Backs. He’s putting up monster numbers and hitting the ball harder most of the league’s superstars. Right now, he ranks No. 8 in average Exit Velocity (94.4) (more than 40 spots ahead of Manny Machado).

  • 2014-18: 61 GP, .170 BA, 6 HR, .683 OPS
  • 2019: 29 GP, .308 BA, 7 HR, .985 OPS

2B: Brandon Lowe (TB)

Lowe, who starred for the Terps in college, is small in stature but extremely powerful with a bat in his hands. Playing in Tampa, it’s hard to be a star. Lowe, however, is going to be one. He signed a six-year extension before the season and through a month-plus, he’s made it clear that $24 million guaranteed is a bargain. Oh yeah, just last night, he hit a game-winning home run against Kansas City.

  • 2018: 43 GP, 6 HR, .233 BA, .774 OPS
  • 2019: 28 GP, 7 HR, .304 BA, .945 OPS

SS: Tim Anderson (CWS)

It’s simple: Tim Anderson is becoming a superstar. Even better, he’s becoming the kind of superstar baseball needs. He’s exciting. He flips his bat. He shows emotion. And…he’s super talented. Right now, Timmy leads the AL in batting average (.355) and stolen bases (10).

  • 2018: 153 GP, .240 BA, 20 HR, 26 SB, .687 OPS
  • 2019: 25 GP, .355 BA, 6 HR, 10 SB, .970 OPS

3B: Tommy La Stella (LAA)

La Stella wasn’t sure if he even wanted to play baseball a few years ago. Now, in a new setting, he’s killing it for the Angels. He has the highest WAR (0.7) among third basemen, according to ESPN, and his seven HR is the most he’s ever hit in one season (in only 29 games). By season’s end, his RBI and HR numbers are going to light years ahead of what he did in ’18.

  • 2018: 123 GP, .672 OPS, 1 HR, 19 RBI
  • 2019: 29 GP, .903 OPS, 7 HR, 19 RBI

OF: Danny Santana (TEX)

Santana burst onto the scene in 2014, finishing seventh in AL Rookie of the Year voting, but he fell WAY off in 2015 and every year since…until now. He started 2019 in Triple-A but earned a call-up after a few weeks. Since joining the big club, he’s been one of the Rangers’ best offensive players; in 16 games, he’s hitting way over .300 with three homers and 5 stolen bases. Finally, he’s proving his rookie year wasn’t a fluke.

  • 2015-18: .219 BA, 6 HR, .575 OPS
  • 2019: .355 BA, 3 HR, .992 OPS

OF: Dwight Smith, Jr. (BAL)

Smith Jr. is one of the best hitters no one has ever heard of. He’s hit before at the MLB level but he’s never stuck around long enough to make a name for himself. Now, he’s playing every day for the first time in his career and showing the league he can flat-out rake. In 29 games, his Sweet Spot Percentage (41.9%) is higher than Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Francisco Lindor, Joey Gallo, and plenty others.

  • 2018: 35 GP, 2 HR, .262 BA
  • 2019: 29 GP, 5 HR, .292 BA

OF: Hunter Pence (TEX)

Pence wasn’t even guaranteed an MLB job this spring. He came to Texas on a minor-league deal and proved he still had some juice left. Through a month-plus, he’s looking like he’s got plenty to offer.

  • 2018: 97 GP, 4 HR, .226 BA, .590 OPS
  • 2019: 18 GP, 3 HR, .298 BA, .858 OPS

DH: Trey Mancini (BAL)

After a tough year in 2018, Mancini is clearly Baltimore’s best hitter and a guy they’ll potentially build around moving forward. He can play multiple positions and through a month-plus, he leads the AL in hits (39).

  • 2018: .242 BA, .715 OPS
  • 2019: .342 BA, .993 OPS