Eight emerging stars from the MLB playoffs

The postseason has a way of expediting a player’s climb up the MLB hierarchy, and this October is no different.

Even as the playoffs continue to develop, there are already those who have raised their stature on the big stage—which will go a long way toward earning themselves a hefty payday in the near future.

8. Lonnie Chisenhall

The Indians cruised to the AL Central title and a Division Series sweep of Boston behind the strength of their pitching. Cleveland’s offense, despite hitting .212 for the postseason, has done just enough to be within one victory of the World Series.

Chisenhall is one of the many unsung heroes, along with being one of the more consistent members of the lineup. He hit safely in the first five playoff games in which he appeared—including a 3-for-3 performance in Game 1 of the ALCS. His .318 batting average is the best among the starters in the Tribe lineup.

7. Andrew Miller

To the keen observers of baseball, Miller was held in high regard even before this season began. Just two winters ago, he signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the New York Yankees. And he was one of the key pieces to be dealt at the trade deadline.

So, his emergence isn’t as pronounced as others during the playoffs. But to ignore his otherworldly excellence—and immediate name recognition—would be a disservice. In the postseason, Miller has faced 33 batters. Twenty have struck out and just four have hits. Of the 17 Toronto hitters, he’s fanned 13 of them.

6. Connor Gillaspie

Continuing the tradition of unlikely San Francisco Giants playoff heroes, Gillaspie provided all the offense Madison Bumgarner needed in the NL Wild Card game. His ninth inning homer off Mets closer Jeurys Familia came with two runners on and came against a pitcher who allowed just one during the regular season.

His prowess at the plate continued during the NLDS against Chicago. The former first round draft pick, who languished in obscurity for seven big league years, recorded six (in 15 at-bats) over the four-game series.

5. Cody Allen

In the six Cleveland victories so far, Allen has been heavily involved in five of them—racking up four saves (the most of any pitcher this postseason.

He was 32-for-35 in save opportunities during the regular year, and that consistency is currently being maintained in this most pressure-packed time. Batters have just four hits off Allen in 6.2 innings. The Toronto Blue Jays haven’t mustered any so far.

Game 3 appeared to be tilting against Cleveland once starter Trevor Bauer exited in the bottom of the first. But the bullpen rescued their mangled starter with a spectacular effort—including Allen’s 1.2 innings.

4. Kenley Jansen

The value of a shutdown reliever is never more apparent than during the playoffs. Several examples have been brought to the forefront, with managers using risky tactics in getting their bullpen ace out on the mound whenever possible.

In Game 5 of the NLDS, Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts didn’t wait until the eighth or ninth inning to summon his closer. Jansen entered with none out in the seventh. He held the Nationals to one hit over 51 pitches and 2.1 innings, before giving way to the heroics of Clayton Kershaw.

He was able to get six outs each in Games 2 and 3 to make sure Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill’s respective scoreless gems wouldn’t go to waste.

3. Roberto Osuna

Like Andrew Miller and Kenley Jansen, Osuna is also not afraid to work overtime—all while being at less than 100 percent. Despite an arm injury, he’s gone at least one inning in each of his six appearances. In just two of them has the opposition tallied a hit, while his ERA remains at 0.00. 

Despite all his work, there’s just one save and one win to show for it—both of which occurred in the Division Series triumph over the Texas Rangers. Nonetheless, this all certainly makes up for the ALCS Game 6 loss Osuna suffered against Kansas City one year prior.

2. Francisco Lindor

Recently praised as one of baseball’s rising stars, we’re now seeing that this 22-year-old shortstop is wise beyond his age. As good as he is with the glove, he’s just as good with the bat—especially in clutch situations.

Lindor went 2-for-4 with a double in the ALDS clincher at Fenway Park, which really got him going. Two more hits came in the ALCS opener, including a two-run homer in the sixth—which proved to be the difference in a 2-0 Indians victory. His third inning Game 2 single to center broke a 1-1 tie and, once more, provided the game-winning run.

1. Javier Baez

Lindor isn’t the only young middle infielder who’s jumped onto the national scene. Over the past few weeks, the remarkable baseball I.Q. from Baez (age 23) has been on full display—never more so than the double play he initiated in Game 2 against the Dodgers.

His dramatic homer off Johnny Cueto in Game 1 of the NLDS, breaking a scoreless tie in the eighth, provided the keynote for what Chicago hopes is—at long last—a run to the World Series. It also initiated a postseason in which Baez is batting .333 with five runs scored. No player, rising star or superstar, has had a greater impact to his team this month.