Carlos Beltran – 2004
At the start of the 2004 campaign, Carlos Beltran was a talented five-tool player stuck on a bad Kansas City Royals team. His career narrative changed that season after being traded to the Astros in June.
Beltran blossomed after the trade and hoisted his name to a superstar level. In 90 games with Houston in 2004, Beltran hit .258 with 23 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases. Down the stretch, the Astros went 36-10 and clinched the NL Wild Card on the final day of the regular season.
Of course, the story gets better. Just two seasons after Bonds did the unthinkable with eight postseason home runs, Beltran matched his mark.
Beltran was unconscious in the NLDS and NLCS. He hit two home runs in the NLDS game five clincher over the Atlanta Braves. In the first four games of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, Beltran went deep once in each game.
Throughout 12 games in the 2004 postseason, Beltran .435 with eight homers, six steals, 14 RBIs, and a .536 OBP in 12 games. Despite his brilliance, Beltran was unable to hit any long balls in the final three games of the NLCS. St. Louis won games six and seven earning a World Series matchup against the Boston Red Sox.