MLB’s 2017 All-Surprise Team
By Matt Veasey
MLB 2017 ALL-SURPRISE TEAM PITCHERS
SP – Ervin Santana, Minnesota: you’re going to find that the arms here are all familiar names. But they all have very unfamiliar results to this point in the season. Santana more than any of the others. The 34-year old in his 13th season has pitched like a true ace for the first time in his career, and for the game’s biggest surprise team. With a 7-3 record, Santana has a pair of complete game shutouts, the only pitcher this year who can make such a claim. He has allowed just 43 hits over 81 innings, and has stellar 2.44 ERA and 0.926 WHIP marks.
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SP – Jason Vargas, Kansas City: Vargas has matched Santana with a 7-3 record, and has stellar 2.08 ERA and 1.096 WHIP marks. He has surrendered just 60 hits over 69.1 innings with a 54/16 K:BB ratio as well. He has also tossed a complete game shutout. The 34-year old is enjoying the best of his now 13 seasons, after making just a dozen total big league appearances over the last two years.
SP – Mike Leake, Saint Louis: a 29-year old in his eight season, Leake has a 5-4 record. It comes with outstanding 2.64 ERA and 0.947 WHIP marks. Having allowed just 59 hits over 75 innings with a 53/12 K:BB ratio, Leake has provided much-needed depth to the Cardinals rotation.
SP – Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh: Nova is a 30-year old in his eighth season of big league ball. He has a 5-4 record with a 2.92 ERA, 1.078 WHIP, and a 40/6 K:BB ratio. Nova has a pair of complete games as well, including a shutout.
PAIR OF SURPRISE CLOSERS
RP – Greg Holland, Colorado: a star out of the Royals bullpen from 2011-15, Holland was a key to Kansas City’s back-to-back AL champs and 2015 World Series winner. He was also a 2013 and 2014 AL All-Star. However, he underwent Tommy John surgery after that 2015 Fall Classic, and missed the entire season a year ago. The Rockies gave the now 31-year old a shot by signing him at the end of January, and he has been a revelation. Holland leads all of MLB with 21 Saves. Despite pitching half of his games in the challenging Coors Field environs, he has allowed just 39 hits over 44.2 innings, striking out 49 batters.
RP – Bud Norris, Angels: Norris had been a starting pitcher for most of his now nine-year big league career before tasting some bullpen action in the last two seasons. Due to injuries and the ineffectiveness of others, he was given a shot at the closer role with the Angels. It was the classic “take the ball and run with it” outcome. Norris has Saved 10 games, with a 2.60 ERA and 1.048 WHIP. He has allowed just 17 hits over 27.2 innings, with a strong 36/12 K:BB ratio.