What Makes an MLB Player a Superstar?

Image Courtesy of Wash Times

   The MLB has been a highly profitable league over the years. There are many reasons for that such as the colorful history of the game, and being great summer tradition. Perhaps the biggest reason of them all though, may be the star power the league possesses. The biggest question one could ask though is, what exactly makes a major league hitter a superstar?

Being a Great Hitter

     This one is perhaps the most commonly shared trait among superstars not only today, but throughout history. Name me five superstars today who can hit. Now, name me five superstars who don't hit all too well (pitchers don't count, wise guy). Scoring runs accounts for half of what helps a team win games. That's why it's apparent that most superstars can hit because their impactful bats help their team win games. Plus, it's exciting to watch players who can hit. 

Flashing a Ton of Leather

     If a player was just as bad in the field as he is good at bat, he would likely make very little impact in the game. That's because that player would be giving with the bat, and taking away with their glove. We've seen plenty of guys like that, and very few of them were considered stars. For many years, it was accepted for a player to be awful in the field, but make up for it with a great bat. However, today's era is completely different because now a player with that skill set will get criticized due to today's athletes being as strong and athletic as ever. Baseball is no exception to that, as now today's stars are more versatile and balanced compared to the ones of the past. Plus, seeing the athleticism and grace of players tracking down almost guaranteed hits and turning them into outs can be jaw dropping. 

Blazing on the Basepaths

     Due to the decreased importance of stolen bases, the value of speed may appear to be diminished. Try telling that to guys like Mike Trout. Guys like him show that the triple is still one of the most exciting plays in the sport, and with Statcast, it makes those plays all the more fascinating. Not only does speed get taken into account, but with the addition of advanced metrics, intelligent baserunning is as noticed as ever. For example, the 2017 Bill James handbook (also can be found on baseball info solutions, subscription required) recognizes Mike Trout as the most efficient baserunner, with a league leading +58 net gain from overall baserunning. What is important to note though, is that someone who will never be regarded as the fleetest of foot in Kris Bryant had a +27 net gain on the bases. That was higher than known speedsters like Jose Altuve (+9 gain) and only one off behind Starling Marte. Overall, if a player can help his team on the bases, that is a major trait a superstar can possess. 

Marketability

     Essentially, this is the drawing power a player possesses. If a player is able to put butts in seats (as well as his merchandise being a big seller), he is considered to be marketable. Starring in commercials and having many different sponsorships would also show a player as marketable. However, a player's marketability is what I believe makes the debate of who exactly is a superstar in this league (or any for that matter), a murky one. For example, David Wright has been a highly marketable player throughout his career, but he is unfortunately no longer a superstar. Meanwhile, Freddie Freeman consistently plays at an All Star level, but has never been considered to be a true superstar. Overall, marketability is a huge quality to have because at the end of the day, Major League baseball (like almost anything else) is a business trying to make a good profit. If a player is marketable, they are considered highly valuable because they help their team make more money. Not only that, but with big media outlets backing you up, a player can easily become a household name among MLB fans. 

Noah Syndergaard (Left) and Yoenis Cespedes (Right)
Image from CBC

Conclusion

     Not all superstars have all of these traits. However, most (if not all) of the current superstars in the league have at least two of the four listed above, and are among the best in the league at those things. I believe that perhaps the most important quality for a player to have in order to be considered a star is believe it or not, marketability. The best example I can give would be the aforementioned Starling Marte. 

     Since his first full season in 2013, he has averaged a 4.17 WAR (fangraphs version). He has shown he can hit, never posting a wRC+ (overall hitting value) lower than 115 in a season (meaning he's hit better than the league by at least 15% each year since the average wRC+ is 100). He can run, as evidenced by what I explained about him on the bases before. He also has easily been one of the best defensive outfielders in that stretch.

     Marte has been a very good player, but is likely not considered to be a superstar. So, what gives? What gives, exactly, is that besides fielding, Marte is between good to very good as a hitter and runner, but not elite in either one. The big one though, is that Marte is not a largely marketable player like his outfield counterpart, Andrew McCutchen. Of course, said marketability needs to be partnered with another elite skill or two in order for a player to ascend to superstar status. 

     The question I'm sure I'd get is what about pitchers? Well, I don't have enough space (digital space?) to cover both pitchers and hitters due to them having completely different roles. That's why I plan on eventually discussing what makes a pitcher a superstar as well.