The 6 players set up best to bounce back in ’23
You know what was enjoyable in regards to the Comeback Player of the Year Award final 12 months? It was, for the primary time, received by two gamers who’re virtually sure to be within the Hall of Fame sometime. Justin Verlander received it within the American League (together with that little Cy Young factor), and Albert Pujols received within the National League, in what was his closing season. Heading into the season, Verlander was a superb wager; he was getting back from harm, in spite of everything. But Pujols? Not even essentially the most optimistic Cardinals fan may anticipate what he was about to do. That’s the enjoyable of the Comeback Player of the Year Award: It’s laborious to foretell.
But let’s strive anyway. Here’s a take a look at six gamers who had a tough 2022 season however could possibly be primed to be main components in 2023. Some of them are younger gamers who couldn’t fairly get it going; a few of them are veterans who’ve been higher most of their careers than they have been final 12 months. But all of them may bounce again in a giant means in 2023.
Jonathan India, 2B, Reds
He wasn’t simply the Rookie of the Year in 2021; it wasn’t even shut. The Reds’ second baseman received 29 of the 30 votes — the Marlins’ Trevor Rogers acquired the opposite one — and he firmly established himself as not simply probably the greatest gamers on the Reds, but additionally as a cornerstone. He had energy, pace, protection, a fantastic batting eye and plain panache; your eyes have been simply drawn to him.
Well, no person wished to look in 2022: India’s OBP dropped greater than 50 factors (from .376 to .327), his slugging dropped greater than 80 (from .459 to .378) and even his protection was a little bit shakier. Hamstring points messed with most of his first half, and after sustaining a bone bruise on his shin on the Field of Dreams sport, he by no means actually acquired going. India mentioned he put an excessive amount of stress on himself final 12 months after successful the Rookie of the Year, and you’ll see how this season, with decrease expectations for each him and his crew, ought to present a distinct surroundings. The Reds are nonetheless figuring some issues out, however India was anticipated to be a continuing for this crew. In 2023, he is perhaps once more.
Eddie Rosario, OF, Braves
Anybody keep in mind who the Braves traded for Eddie Rosario, proper earlier than that unbelievable run to a World Series championship? Would you consider it was Pablo Sandoval? It’s true! It’s troublesome to see the Braves successful that title with out Rosario, who was the NLCS MVP, culminating in that unbelievable Game 6 three-run homer that primarily clinched the collection. It wasn’t a shock then that the Braves introduced him again on a two-year deal, however 2022 was a complete mess. Rosario acquired off to a begin so wretched (an .068 common in April) that the Braves had his eyes checked and found that he had a swollen proper retina, blurring his imaginative and prescient. He was higher after returning — he’d should be — and he ought to have his spot again in left discipline. After all, he hit all through his complete profession till the attention points. He ought to have loads of possibilities to be clutch in October once more.
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Tigers
The factor about can’t-miss prospects is that, uh, typically, for a short time anyway, they miss. Everything about Torkelson — the No. 1 general choose within the 2020 Draft — pointed to a breakout in 2022. But, like the whole lot else with the Tigers in 2022, Torkelson didn’t get it going. After a much-heralded callup, he was hitting .199 with 5 homers (.577 OPS) in mid-July, forcing the Tigers to ship him again all the way down to Triple-A. He was a little bit higher when he returned to the massive league membership in September (.678 OPS), however solely a little bit.
On the entire: Torkelson appeared nothing just like the all-world prospect who was supposed to steer the Tigers again to the promised land. Of course, Mike Trout was horrible in his first stint within the Majors too; that turned out all proper. The Tigers have invested a lot in Torkelson that he’ll get each alternative to determine himself, and clearly scouts didn’t think about all that expertise. Torkelson’s the last word post-hype sleeper: Try to not act shocked when he appears to be like like himself once more.
Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
There have been occasions in his profession when it appeared like Votto was in steep decline, solely to bounce again and remind us why he is acquired a fantastic case for the Hall of Fame. For instance, after the 2021 All-Star break (fairly current!) he hit 25 homers and had a 1.057 OPS. Of course, he acquired off to a nasty begin in 2022, and earlier than he had an opportunity to rebound, he tore his left rotator cuff and biceps, ending his season. He needs to be wholesome to start out this season, and with the Reds holding a $20 million crew choice on him for 2024, this may be his closing 12 months in a Reds uniform, the 12 months he turns 40. There aren’t many gamers extra enjoyable to cheer for than Votto. Bet towards a return to previous glory at your personal peril.
Jared Walsh, 1B, Angels
For years, the plan to enhance the Angels — aside from getting them extra pitching — was clear: Get one other star to affix Mike Trout. Well, in 2021, the Angels had two: MVP Shohei Ohtani and Walsh, who constructed off his breakthrough 2020 with a 29-homer, 98-RBI season that despatched him to his first All-Star Game. Sure, a few of his 2021 first half was a little bit little bit of an aberration — he fell off a bit within the second half — however nobody thought he would fall of a cliff like he did in 2022, hitting solely 15 homers and shedding 70 factors off his OBP (from .340 to .269). The subject, as tends to be the case, was accidents: He had surgical procedure to cope with thoracic outlet syndrome on Sept. 1, so he needs to be near prepared by Spring Training. He doesn’t should be the celebrity he was the primary half of 2021 to assist his crew. But the more and more determined Angels certain would recognize it.
Jesse Winker, OF, Brewers
If you mentioned, “The Mariners will end up valuing Eugenio Suárez more than Jesse Winker” once they made that high-profile commerce with the Reds earlier than final season, effectively, sorry: I wouldn’t have believed you. But it turned out that means, with Suárez outperforming Winker and now sitting in the midst of the Mariners’ order whereas Winker was shipped off to Milwaukee for Kolten Wong. But Winker, whereas clearly taking a step again from his huge 2021 season, wasn’t that dangerous in 2022: He nonetheless put up a 103 OPS+, in spite of everything. And Milwaukee is perhaps the right place for him: in a division he is aware of effectively, on a contending crew that trusts him proper in the midst of its order. The Brewers made some sneaky-good strikes this offseason, notably with their lineup, and Winker is central to all of it. Don’t be shocked if he instantly appears to be like just like the man Seattle traded for off his All-Star 2021 marketing campaign for the Reds.
