MLB Comeback Player of the Year Candidate: Ken Giles
Toronto Blue Jays – Pitcher
The final player that I want to highlight making a true comeback had to be another pitcher.
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It was likely going to come from the Blue Jays. If Shoemaker had not gotten injured, it may be him. Marcus Stroman was also considered given how well he turned around since his dominance in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Eventually, I landed on Giles.
Giles had been highly sought after once the Phillies brought him to the big leagues in 2014.
It was so much so that while the Phillies were looking the rebuild, the Astros were in need of his services. And he did them a solid.
He was lights out in his second season in Houston on route to a World Series ring.
But then he fell apart, he lost his job in the rotation, and as quickly sought after as he was, the Astros changed directions with closer and shipped him to Toronto for Roberto Osuna.
His ERA continued to balloon despite not having blown any saves last season. This season is the Giles much of the MLB hoped to see.
He is 9 of 10 in save opportunities and in 19 games holds an ERA of 1.47. His WHIP is below one and his opponents have only amassed a .194 batting average while striking out 28 of them.
It’s hard for a closer to gather the necessary attention because of how specialized they are, but it is hard to overlook Giles’ impact in Toronto’s bullpen. He has been trustworthy and true to form so far in the early part of the season.
Unfortunately at the rate the Blue Jays are going, he may find himself traded again, but somewhere where his services will be just as valuable then as they are now.