Players, others turn out in record numbers to honor “6″

Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryan Roberts, 3B: The Diamondbacks started the season with a plan of platooning Melvin Mora and Geoff Blum at third base. However, the 30-year-old Roberts eventually won the position. He has hit a respectable .259/.355/.447 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) with 15 homers and 14 steals. He’s played above-average defense at third base and has solidified the Diamondbacks at the hot corner. He also shows off some impressive tattoos, some of which he’s given himself. His contributions have been an important factor in Arizona’s tight pennant race with the Giants.

Atlanta Braves, Jose Constanza, OF: Constanza is the first player I’ve seen in baseball history to physically lick the sweet spot of his bat with his tongue, then belt a home run, as he did on Sunday in a 6-5 win over the New York Mets. He has started his major league career by going 14-for-36. He might not be an everyday player, but at age 27, he’s opening eyes as a potential solid extra outfielder. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003. In his seven minor league seasons he’s hit .290/.364/.356

Chicago Cubs, Darwin Barney, 2B: When the Cubs entered spring training in March, Cubs officials projected either Blake DeWitt or Jeff Baker would be the starting second baseman. Instead, Barney eventually won the job. The 25-year-old was a fourth-round pick in 2007 after winning two College World Series titles at Oregon State, and he’s just a winning baseball player. The Cubs have solidified second base.

Cincinnati Reds, Dave Sappelt, LF: Sappelt, 24, was the Reds’ ninth-round selection in the 2008 draft. In his four minor league seasons he’s hit a combined .309/.362/.459. The Reds, desperate for a leadoff hitter, will give him a look in left field with Chris Heisey and 2008 first-round pick Yonder Alonso, who can really hit but is best suited for first base. Sappelt probably will end up as an extra outfielder, but as Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo told me Wednesday, Sappelt has hit his whole career in the minor leagues, so there’s no reason he can’t hit in the big leagues.

Colorado Rockies, Ian Stewart, 3B: Stewart, 26, has had a terrible season, almost but not the quite the National League version of Adam Dunn. He’s hit .156 with no home runs. That said, he hit 25 bombs as recently as 2009 and 18 last year in just 121 games. He has spent his full career with the Rockies, but that tenure probably will end with a trade or an eventual non-tender. A shrewd GM might gamble by quietly acquiring the 2003 first-rounder after a horrible season. At 26 years old, he’s still young enough to turn his career around.

Florida Marlins, Emilio Bonifacio, INF/OF: The 26-year-old has been traded twice during his career because his previous teams questioned whether his bat would ever amount to anything more than a role player. Bonifacio is one of the fastest players in baseball, and with a shortage of leadoff hitters in the game, his potential is intriguing. This year, after the Marlins made a managerial change and brought in Jack McKeon, Bonifacio was given the opportunity to lead off and play every day. He’s taken advantage of his time, and he’s starting to figure out how to get on base. His .358 on-base percentage and 25 stolen bases are the best of his career. Bonifacio might end up at second base next year, but the bat is what general managers will watch.

Houston Astros, Jose Altuve, 2B: Altuve was signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent in 2007 out of Maracay, Venezuela. The 5-foot-7, 170-pound second baseman has been a hitting machine ever since. In his five minor league seasons he hit a combined .327 with 117 stolen bases. I saw him at the Futures Game and was impressed with his short path to the ball, loud, sweet-spot contact. On defense, he showed soft hands and quick feet at second base. Since the Astros promoted him July 19, the 21-year-old has hit .328, and he could end up as their long-term solution at second base.

Los Angeles Dodgers, Nathan Eovaldi, RHP: Eovaldi (pronounced without the O), 21, was the Dodgers’ 11th-round selection in the 2008 draft. After posting a 2.62 ERA for Double-A Chattanooga, he beat the second-place Diamondbacks in his major league debut this past Saturday, pitching five innings and punching out seven. He pounded the strike zone with a fastball that ranged from 92-95 mph with a deceptive delivery. He has pitched well enough for evaluators around the league to take notice.

Milwaukee Brewers, Nyjer Morgan, CF: After wearing out his welcome in Pittsburgh and Washington, Morgan has finally found a home in Milwaukee. His defense in center field has been exceptional, and his emotional and physical antics on and off the field (not to mention a .358 OBP) have made him a hometown favorite in Milwaukee. His arrogance and flamboyance combined with some genuine humility have been a rare combination and a lightning rod that’s been fun to watch. His speed could be a difference-maker as he runs down balls in center down the stretch.

New York Mets, Justin Turner, 2B: Turner, 26, was drafted by Cincinnati in the seventh round of the 2006 draft. He was traded to the Orioles in a deal that brought catcher Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati. The Mets claimed him from Baltimore on waivers in May 2010. He opened the season as the Mets’ fourth-string second baseman and eventually won the job. His .273/.333/.372 line has been respectable, and his defense at second and third base has been above-average. Turner has made a good impression in his first legitimate major league opportunity and has carved a niche as a solid utility player for the Mets.

Philadelphia Phillies, Antonio Bastardo, LHP: No Phillies players can be considered under-the-radar; however, if you have to pick one, it would have to be Bastardo. The 25-year-old has been one of the most dominating left-handed relievers in the league with a 1.47 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. When the Phillies had to deal with injuries to Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Jose Contreras, they never skipped a beat thanks to Bastardo’s surprising pitching.

Pittsburgh Pirates, Jeff Karstens, RHP: Karstens, 28, was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 45th round of the 2000 draft. He didn’t sign and was drafted again by the New York Yankees in the 19th round of the 2003 draft. He was traded to the Pirates in a five-player deal in 2008. Karstens had never won more than four games in a major league season until this year but is starting to put it together. His 8-6 record with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP are clearly the best of his career, and he has locked down a middle-of-the-rotation spot for the Bucs.

San Diego Padres, Josh Spence, LHP: The Arizona State product breezed through the Padres system with a 2.14 ERA in just 71 1/3 innings pitched before being promoted on June 24. In terms of left-handed relievers, most of the attention in the NL goes to Jonny Venters of the Braves, Javier Lopez of the Giants and Sean Marshall of the Cubs. However, Spence has quietly joined the elite of the league. Not afraid to throw curveball after curveball, he’s quietly dominating NL left-handed hitters, who are hitting .125 against him.

San Francisco Giants, Nate Schierholtz, OF: The 27-year-old was the Giants’ second-round selection back in 2003. He’s one of the best defensive corner outfielders in baseball, and his bat has started to show. He’s hitting .277/.324/.422 with some key RBIs and seven homers. He profiles as a fourth outfielder, but his intangibles, defense, strong throwing arm and key hits make him a much better player than his tools and numbers project.

St. Louis Cardinals, David Freese, 3B: Freese, 28, is one of the most underrated third basemen in the league. He was drafted by the Padres and traded to the Cardinals for Jim Edmonds in December 2007. Freese always gives a professional at-bat and loves to be at the plate with runners in scoring position. He has a short, compact swing and takes the slider down and away to right field in important at-bats. When healthy, he’s an above-average third baseman and has the potential to be an All-Star player. The biggest issue for Freese is that he is constantly injured. His latest injury is a mild concussion suffered when he was hit by a pitch Aug. 4.