MLB Players Who Could Win Comeback Player of the Year in 2017

It isn’t uncommon for an athlete to have a down year, especially in baseball. 2016 saw some big-name MLB players struggle and others miss the entire year due to injury. Those same players look to bounce back in 2017 and earn themselves the Comeback Player of the Year award.

MLB developed the Comeback Player of the Year award for a player to win from both the AL and NL who had themselves a bounce-back season. Whether the player had a poor previous season or missed the year before because of injury, they can win the award for having a stellar season after a disappointing one.

In 2016, Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello and Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon took home the achievement.

Porcello bounced back from a down 2015 where his ERA at 4.92 tied his career-high. He also suffered a career-low in wins with nine. In 2016 though, Porcello reached his highest amount of wins with 22, and a career-low ERA at 3.15. His WAR in 2014 was 4.0, in 2015 it fell to 0.6 and in 2016 it jumped back up to 5.0.

Rendon broke out in 2014, hitting .287 with 21 home runs and 83 RBI. But an injury-ridden year prevented him from playing a full season in 2015. Rendon played in 80 games and hit just .264 with five home runs and 25 RBI. Back healthy in 2016, Rendon had another stellar season with a .270 batting average, 20 home runs and a career-high 85 RBI.

Both Porcello and Rendon earned the award with their huge comeback seasons, but who win earn it in 2017? Here are three players from the AL and three players from the NL who could win the awards this year.