Matt Carpenter's improbable path to becoming an All-Star talent

JAFFE: Matt Carpenter among top position players flying under the radar

Tom Verducci | Jun 25, 2013

Matt Carpenter's improbable path to becoming an All-Star talent /

Matt Carpenter, once the 399th pick in the 2009 draft, is currently second in the NL in runs scored (56). — Matt Carpenter, once the 399th pick in the 2009 draft, is currently second in the NL in runs scored (56) :: G Fiume/Getty Images

JAFFE: Matt Carpenter among top position players flying under the radar

Published Jun 25, 2013

TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.