In professional sports, the label “underrated” is rarely harmless. It can be a belated recognition—or a spark for controversy. When MLB.com announced its 2026 All-Underrated Team and included two Seattle Mariners, fan reactions were almost divergent.
With J.P. Crawford, things went smoothly. Polarizing? Yes. But it’s hard to deny. 108 OPS+ since 2021—third among shortstops with at least 700 games and playing in their position more than half the time—is no number to be taken lightly. At 31, Crawford is still the kind of player whose value is often only seen when… he’s not on the court.
Mariners fans are used to defending Crawford against superficial criticism. So, his MLB recognition as underrated is almost just a belated tick of the box.
But the other name is different.
Dominic Canzone starting at DH was a choice that made many… hesitate.
On paper, Canzone’s 2025 season was a real step forward. In 82 games and 269 plate appearances, he achieved .300/.358/.481, OPS .840, OPS+ 142 and 1.6 bWAR — all career-best. That’s not the achievement of a mediocre player.
But it was the way those numbers were generated that caused the reservations.
September changed everything about Canzone. He exploded with slash line .365/.414/.635 and OPS 1.048 — and, more notably, it was also the first time he was used as a true DH. In eight starts at this position, Canzone looked like a completely different version of himself.
The peak came on September 16th against the Royals: 5-for-5, three home runs — his first three home runs ever. A moment that seemed to erase all limits.
But baseball rarely tells a story solely through peaks.
Soon after, the postseason brought Canzone back down to earth. 3-for-28, only one RBI in 10 playoff games. No clutch. No impact. And suddenly, the question arose: was that September a turning point… or just an exception?
Even Anthony Castrovince — the one who selected Canzone — seemed aware of that fine line. He admitted the sample size was small, even adding a touch of self-mockery when mentioning his hometown connection and… his batting practice shirt.
It was a rare moment where an “official” selection felt very human — and very subjective.
Looking at the bigger picture, underrated DH picks could well include Kerry Carpenter of the Tigers, who haunted the Mariners in the ALDS, or Iván Herrera of the Cardinals. Carpenter, in particular, had one of the most impressive individual performances in the postseason, making six base runs in a historic Game 5.
Compared to them, Canzone’s record is still relatively thin.
This isn’t a criticism. Canzone has never lacked confidence—sometimes even overconfident compared to previous productions. But 2025 is the first time he’s truly translated that confidence into results. Now, the issue isn’t about explosive potential, but about repeatability.
If Canzone continues to be given opportunities in DH and maintains his effectiveness, the “underrated” designation will become justified—even prophetic. Otherwise, this pick will be seen in retrospect as a moment where MLB fell in love with a beautiful story… a little too soon.
And that’s probably what makes Dominic Canzone the most controversial name on this list.
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