Who has been the most surprising player in baseball this year?

Question

Who has been the most surprising player in baseball this year?

Answer 1

I would have to say Mike Mussina.  So many people called for his retirement last year but he has come back this year and shut them all up.

Answer 2

Defintely Josh Hamilton!

Answer 3

Josh Hamilton and Evan Longoria

Answer 4

Kerry Wood or Kuske Fukodome

Answer 5

no, being new doesnt mean being surprising. you have have expectations to defy them. josh hamilton, edinson volquez, evan longoria: all of these players were simply rookies, and they were highly touted prospects. by far the most surprising player this season has been cliff lee, a pitcher who was expected to be overshadowed on a team that had c.c.sabathia, fausto carmona, revival story paul byrd, and this pitcher who had FIVE seasons under his belt with a career 4.50 era. he has had his best season so far at age 30, with a 12-2 record despite being on a cellar team, a 2.29 era, and a 1.03 whip. most prospects are expected to mature much earlier. this from a guy who went 5-8 with a 6.29 era and a 1.52 whip last year. maybe if josh hamilton was a pitcher in texas having a good season, we'd all be a little more surprised.

Answer 6

arod

Answer 7

Sure anyone can say Hamilton thats a no brainer but what about the guy he was traded for??? Volquez

Answer 8

Josh Hamilton..... dude was a crack head now hes rocken 100 rbis already...hahaha and hanley ramirez is dirty..but everyone already kneww!

Answer 9

I agree with the other poster who said Hamilton. He's over 100 RBI now. His HR derby performance was amazing and you don't expect that on a "big stage" from a guy who was seemingly washed up not too long ago. Great story, great performance. Shades of "The Natural" here.

I love Mussina's comeback BUT it's not altogether surprising for a guy with a lot of success to have an Indian Summer. Hamilton came outta nowhere.

Answer 10

kyle lohse, 12-2 and didnt even hve a contract until spring training

Answer 11

By far, JOsh Hamilton. This guy got his life together, put all personal affairs aside, has been grateful for his second chance, and proves it daily/nightly without creating a need for media attention, or/and, allowing it to get to his head. He recently had done a 20/20 or 60 minutes interview, I forgot, sorry, and was so endearing. Made more of a fan out of me. Clearly this seasons MVP, despite his teams struggles to win. If Andre Dawson could win it in 84 on the last place Cubs, no reason why Hamilton shouldnt be recognized for his achievements.

Answer 12

Carlos Quetin

Answer 13

agree with the first guy...hamilton is such a suprise to the mlb this year.its not even funny

Answer 14

Mike Mussina  39 years old and everyone on Y!A was ready to put him out to pasture......  

Kyle Farnsworth..... last year I was ready to put him out to pasture

FINALLY!  The Yankees are winning games not offensively, but defensively.....

Answer 15

Robinson Cano.  The Yankees were worried about how he was hitting in the first half of the season, and now he's on fire.

Answer 16

Josh Hamilton, without a doubt. He's been amazing, and what a comeback story he's been. A very inspirational story.

Answer 17

ready for a name that you probably haven't heard of (he doesn't play in NY or Boston or Chicago):

Jair Jurrjens- he's a rookie right handed starting pitcher for the braves with 11 wins and a low 3's era. He just pitched 8 shutout innings for a win against the Phils but the Baseball Tonight announcers were busy drueling over JOba.

No one had even heard of Jurrjens before the season and now he is likely to win Rookie of the Year.

No one had even heard of Jurrjens before

Answer 18

You guys are forgetting 2 other people.

Josh Hamilton is one of them but so is J.D Drew and Jon Lester.

Jon Lester hitting a no hitter after battling cancer and he's just having a great year all around. Same with J.D Drew after coming back from a bad year, hitting homeruns only big papi would hit and all star mvp.

Answer 19

kyle lohse rick ankiel and ryan ludwick!@

Answer 20

Nate Mclouth on pace to have over 50 doubles, 30 home runs, and 90 extra base hits.

Answer 21

mike mussina

or josh hamilton

hamilton is a great story

but me personaly i thought mussina was washed up and done

we wud be no were in contention without mussina