Poll: NL comeback player of the first half

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

1. Josh Beckett, Los Angeles Dodgers*

By the time Josh Beckett was 27-years old he had two World Series Rings one with the, then, Florida Marlins in 2003 and one with the Boston Red Sox in 2007. He was the World Series MVP with the Marlins and was the ALCS MVP in 2007 with the Red Sox before they went on to win the World Series. Add to that three All-Star appearance by the age of 30 and you could already call that the career of a lifetime. He has a rough 2012 season and was traded mid-season by the Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2013 Beckett suffered nerve injury and was out for four weeks. The injury turned out to be thoracic outlet syndrome  which required season-ending surgery. He went 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in just 8 starts.

2014 didn’t start off well for Beckett as he was lit up in his first start but with a little help from catcher A.J. Ellis he realized that his curve-ball was all but un-hittable.  Now he has basically re-invented himself as primarily a curve-ball pitcher without even having to change a thing about the pitch. He just throws it more often. His ERA is now a career low 2.68 and he’s only complete game this year was a no-hitter. It’s safe to say that the 34-year old right-hander has resurrected, what was already, a career that most major league players just dream of.

*yes, I know he went on the DL with a hip injury but he did play almost the entire first half so in my opinion it counts