Poll: NL comeback player of the first half
The comeback player of the year award is an interesting award as it was only adopted by Major League Baseball in 2005. The Sporting News, however, has been awarding players who have comeback from terrible seasons, injuries or even personal issues since 1965. The Sporting News’ Comeback Player of the Year Award is not officially recognized by MLB.
Whichever way you look at it, whoever’s opinion you agree with or disagree with the Comeback Player of the Year award is an important one. Imagine you had an injury and comeback to an amazing season or are 40-years old, had been on the decline and comeback to win 18 games. Those are accomplishments that should be acknowledged.
I’ve chosen four candidates that I think could be considered for Comeback Player of the Year if the award was given out during the All-Star break. Also listed will be other candidates I would give honorable mention to or could also be considered as having a comeback year.
Take a look at my candidates and vote in the poll for your choice. If you choose “other” in the poll please leave a comment with your choice. Starting on the next page are my choices for N.L. Comeback Player of the first half of 2014,in alphabetical order.
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
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
2. Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto had a career low ERA in 2011 and a career high 19 wins in 2012. In 2012 he finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting. 2013 was not a good year for Cueto who struggled throughout the season with a right lat injury that sent him to the disabled list on multiple occasions. His number of starts was limited to just 11 when he’d started a league leading 33 games in 2012.
Turn the page to 2014 and the first half of the year has treated Cueto so well that when he was asked in May if he was the best pitcher in baseball, he replied,
“I would say yes, because the numbers talk. My numbers are going to talk for me. Everybody else is going to have to worry about their numbers. Every time I go on the mound, I do my job. I have to do my job to get the best numbers.”
Cueto might not be the very best in baseball but his numbers in 2014 do not lie. He’s 10-6 with a 2.13 ERA. He has pitched a league leading 143.2 innings and is also leading the league with three complete games. Cueto has started in 20 games so far this season and was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. Not bad for a guy who only won 5 games last season.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
3. Casey McGehee, Miami Marlins
It is tough to say anyone in the National League has made a bigger comeback than Miami Marlins’ infielder Casey McGehee. He went from hitting .301 and being awarded Rookie of the Year honors with Milwaukee in 2009 to playing in Japan for all of the 2013 season. What happened between 2009 and 2013? By 2012 McGehee’s batting average had dropped to .217 on the year. He had 104 RBI in 2010. In 2012, McGehee had 41. When it comes to home run totals it was the same scenario. McGehee went from hitting over 20 in 2010 to not even reaching double digits in 2012. He spent time with both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees in 2012 and by 2013 he was in Japan. Wow.
The Marlins took a chance on McGehee in 2014 signing him to a one-year, $1.1 million contract and it has paid off so far. McGehee is batting .321 with a league leading 117 hits. His power hasn’t returned having only just one home run on the year but he’s hit 21 doubles and has 53 RBI. I’d call that one huge way to make a comeback.
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
4. Miguel Montero, Arizona Diamondbacks
After being named an All-Star in 2011 and hitting .286 in 2012, Miguel Montero‘s numbers dropped substantially in 2013. He batted .230 and had nearly half the number of RBI he had had the two season’s prior. He missed 24 games in August do to an injury, leaving many wondering if the six-year, $65.9 million contract he signed after the 2011 season was going to be a bust for the Diamondbacks.
So far in 2014, even though the team has floundered, there has been no question as to Montero returning to form. He was named to the All-Star game in place of injured St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina, marking his second appearance at the Mid-Summer Classic. Montero’s batting average is back up to .273. He has already hit 11 home runs which is only four away from his 2012 season total and seven away from his 2011 season total. It’s safe to say he has a chance to surpass his career high home run total of 18 in a season. Montero is back and in a big way that was unexpected. Too bad you can’t say the same for the rest of his team.
Honorable Mention: Tim Hudson, RHP, San Francisco Giants; Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs; Ian Kennedy, RHP, San Diego Padres
Now it’s your turn to make your choice of which player has made the best comeback during the first half of the 2014 season. If you choose “other” as your answer, please leave a comment on who your choice would be.